2 States was filmed primarily across three Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Chennai, and New Delhi. Key locations include the Louis Kahn red-brick campus of IIM Ahmedabad, Teen Darwaza in Old Ahmedabad, Madras Boat Club along the Adyar River in Chennai, Kapaleeshwarar Temple streets in Mylapore, and residential bungalows in Punjabi Bagh, Delhi. The climax seaside wedding was visually modeled on the UNESCO Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, with ceremonial mandap scenes filmed on a seaside set at Madh Island.
🗺 Interactive Filming Map & Live Navigation
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📋 Quick Facts: Shooting Spots at a Glance
| Spot Name | Real Landmark | State / Country | Key Scene | GPS Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louis Kahn Campus, IIM Ahmedabad | Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380015 | Gujarat, India | The MBA Lecture Halls, Dorm 2 & Red-Brick Corridors | 23.0315, 72.5312 |
| Teen Darwaza & Manek Chowk, Old Ahmedabad | Bhadra, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380001 | Gujarat, India | Late Night Street Food Drives & Old City Explorations | 23.0244, 72.5833 |
| Madras Boat Club, Adyar River, Chennai | No. 2, 3rd Avenue, Boat Club Road, R.A. Puram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600028 | Tamil Nadu, India | Krish's Riverfront Dinner with Ananya's Father | 13.0185, 80.2452 |
| Kapaleeshwarar Temple & Mylapore Streets, Chennai | Vadakkumada Street, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600004 | Tamil Nadu, India | Ananya's Traditional Brahmin Home & Temple Celebrations | 13.0335, 80.2697 |
| Punjabi Bagh Residential Precincts, New Delhi | Club Road, Punjabi Bagh, West Delhi, Delhi 110026 | Delhi, India | Krish's Loud Family Bungalow & Delhi Wedding Shopping | 28.6692, 77.1315 |
| Shore Temple Coastline & Seaside Mandap (Mahabalipuram / Mumbai Set) | Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu 603104 | Tamil Nadu, India | The Grand Seaside Climax Wedding (Shore Temple Setting) | 12.6163, 80.1983 |
📖 Behind-the-Lens Filming Journey
Chronological shooting route across real mountain ridges, heritage estates, and open landscapes.
The First Film Ever Inside IIM Ahmedabad
Production spent three weeks inside the real IIM Ahmedabad campus. Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt shot inside actual lecture halls and Dorm 2 while MBA students walked past between classes, eating at the campus mess and hanging out at late-night tea stalls on IIM Road.
Mylapore Agraharams & The Adyar Riverfront
The narrative shifted to Tamil Nadu to capture Ananya's traditional roots. The crew filmed along the breezy backwaters of the historic Madras Boat Club in R.A. Puram and the bustling temple lanes of Mylapore, using real Carnatic concert halls for family scenes.
Punjabi Bagh Chaos to the Shore Temple Horizon
Filming moved to West Delhi's Punjabi Bagh for loud Malhotra family arguments and lavish banquet halls. For the climax, the production scouted Mahabalipuram's coastline and built an exact Shore Temple replica set directly overlooking the Arabian Sea on Madh Island.
📍 Verified Filming Spots & Scene Guide
Field-checked landmark coordinates, on-set production memories, and scene timestamps.
Louis Kahn Campus, IIM Ahmedabad
Krish and Ananya meet during dinner at the campus mess, partner up for economics presentations in the tiered amphitheater, and study late into the night across the exposed brick plazas and breezy geometric arches of the Louis Kahn complex.
2 States made Bollywood history as the very first feature film permitted to shoot inside the iconic Louis Kahn campus of IIM Ahmedabad. The administration granted permission because author Chetan Bhagat is an alumnus. Real students volunteered as extras during actual lecture scenes, and Arjun Kapoor stayed in a student hostel room during part of the shoot.
"Story mein hero ho na ho, story hero honi chahiye."
Teen Darwaza & Manek Chowk, Old Ahmedabad
Escaping the intense pressure of MBA exams and placement interviews, Krish and Ananya ride through the old city gates on a scooter, sampling street snacks and discussing their post-graduation job offers.
Director Abhishek Varman wanted authentic Gujarati street flavors rather than studio sets. The night scooter riding sequences where Krish and Ananya grab street snacks were filmed late at night near Teen Darwaza after the heavy Old City wholesale market traffic cleared around midnight.
"Punjabi mother-in-law aur Tamil bahu... combination dekha hai kabhi?"
Madras Boat Club, Adyar River, Chennai
Determined to win over Ananya's reserved father Shiv Swaminathan (played by Shivkumar Subramaniam), Krish invites him out for a one-on-one drink and dinner by the river, trying to break through his quiet wall of skepticism with PowerPoint-style logic.
Founded in 1867, the Madras Boat Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs in India. The production unit obtained permission to shoot on the outdoor verandah overlooking the Adyar River to capture the quiet, elite intellectual atmosphere of Ananya's father, who works as an executive at a shipping corporation.
"Beta, your CV is good, but how do I trust you with my daughter?"
Kapaleeshwarar Temple & Mylapore Streets, Chennai
Krish lands in Chennai for his corporate posting and stays close to Ananya's family home, attempting to win over her mother through Carnatic singing lessons and helping her brother with IIT entrance mathematics.
The colorful South Indian home scenes were scouted across traditional agraharam colonies in Mylapore. The art department dressed the house with authentic brass filter coffee dabarahs, Tanjore paintings, and fresh daily kolam powder drawings outside the doorway every morning before call time.
"Yeh Chennai hai beta, yahan filter coffee aur Carnatic music ke bina din nahi shuru hota."
Punjabi Bagh Residential Precincts, New Delhi
Back in Delhi, Krish faces fierce resistance from his proud Punjabi mother and estranged father (Ronit Roy). Ananya visits for a cousin's lavish Punjabi wedding, leading to hilarious cultural clashes over butter chicken, loud music, and dowry discussions.
Amrita Singh's unforgettable portrayal of Kavita Malhotra was grounded in real West Delhi cultural quirks. The crew filmed scenes across genuine residential kothis (villas) in Punjabi Bagh and commercial streets in Rajouri Garden, where shopkeepers brought out heavy bridal lehengas while serving sweet lassi to the actors between takes.
"Mummy, Ananya Tamilian hai... South Indian. Pagal ho gaya hai kya?"
Shore Temple Coastline & Seaside Mandap (Mahabalipuram / Mumbai Set)
In the emotionally charged climax, both families put aside their regional prejudices and come together by the seaside. Ananya walks down the open mandap aisle in a stunning red Kanjeevaram silk saree while Krish waits under the sea-facing stone canopy for the traditional Tamil wedding rituals.
While the breathtaking seaside wedding looks like it was filmed right inside the famous 8th-century Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, the actual ceremony was shot on a custom-built replica set erected at Madh Island in Mumbai. Because the real Shore Temple is a protected UNESCO World Heritage monument where religious wedding rituals cannot be staged, the art department constructed an exact stone-finish replica facing the Arabian Sea, blending it with aerial drone establishing shots of the real Mahabalipuram shoreline.
"Ab do states nahi, ek family banenge."
🧭 Filming Spots Travel & Transit Planning Guide
Practical road directions, seasonal weather windows, and mountain transit advice curated for cinema travelers.
| # | Spot Name | Destination | Rating | Best Season | Transit & Airport Tip | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louis Kahn Campus, IIM Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad, India | ⭐ 4.8 | November to February when Ahmedabad daytime temperatures hover around 24°C and the red-brick courtyards are comfortable to explore in mild winter sunlight. | While general tourist entry to the campus interior is restricted, you can freely walk along IIM Road right outside the boundary wall to experience the famous late-night student kitlis (tea stalls) serving hot masala chai and bun-maska. | |
| #2 | Teen Darwaza & Manek Chowk, Old Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad, India | ⭐ 4.5 | October to March. Visit between 9:00 PM and midnight to enjoy the lively street food atmosphere when the road stalls serve fresh pav bhaji, chocolate sandwiches, and kulfi. | Do not try taking a taxi into Teen Darwaza after 6 PM—the medieval walled streets are clogged with shoppers. Hop off at Bhadra Plaza and walk the remaining 200 meters on foot. | |
| #3 | Madras Boat Club, Adyar River, Chennai | Chennai, India | ⭐ 4.6 | December to February during Chennai's cool season when river breezes keep the open-air lawn comfortable from 5:00 PM onward. | If you do not have a club member friend to host you, walk along the tranquil, tree-lined Boat Club Road outside—it is widely known as Chennai's quietest and greenest residential walking avenue. | |
| #4 | Kapaleeshwarar Temple & Mylapore Streets, Chennai | Chennai, India | ⭐ 4.7 | December to February. December is especially magical because the annual Margazhi music season fills the surrounding sabhas with live concerts and the aroma of freshly roasted filter coffee. | Leave your shoes at the designated stall by the East Sannadhi gopuram. Afterward, walk two minutes down South Mada Street to taste piping hot ghee podi idlis and degree filter coffee at Rayar's Mess. | |
| #5 | Punjabi Bagh Residential Precincts, New Delhi | New Delhi, India | ⭐ 4.4 | October to March when Delhi's crisp winter weather makes afternoon outdoor dining and street shopping on Club Road comfortable. | Take the Delhi Metro Pink Line to Punjabi Bagh West station to avoid the notorious Ring Road traffic jams. Club Road has valet parking at major restaurants, but street parking is tight on weekend evenings. | |
| #6 | Shore Temple Coastline & Seaside Mandap (Mahabalipuram / Mumbai Set) | Mahabalipuram, India | ⭐ 4.7 | November to February. Visit at 6:30 AM sunrise when the Bay of Bengal waves break gently against the protective granite sea-wall and morning golden light hits the weathered stone carvings. | Book your entry ticket online via the official ASI portal to bypass the long manual queue at the ticket counter. Arrive before 7:30 AM to beat the coastal heat and heavy tourist bus groups. |
🎬 Behind-The-Scenes Trivia
- ★ 2 States was the first Bollywood feature film granted official permission to shoot inside the real IIM Ahmedabad campus, filming in active lecture halls and dormitories.
- ★ Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor filmed in the traditional agraharam streets surrounding Chennai's Kapaleeshwarar Temple, interacting with authentic Mylapore resident families.
- ★ The romantic scenes along the Adyar River were captured on the private colonial rowing decks of the Madras Boat Club, founded in 1867.
- ★ The climactic Shore Temple seaside wedding was shot on a custom replica set erected on Madh Island in Mumbai because ASI regulations forbid ceremonies inside the protected Mahabalipuram monument.
✈️ How to Plan Your Visit & Travel Reality
Nearest Transit: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD) in Ahmedabad; Chennai International Airport (MAA) in Chennai.
Best Time to Visit: October to March for comfortable outdoor sightseeing across both Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
Local Tip: To visit Mahabalipuram Shore Temple, book ASI entry tickets online in advance to bypass long ticket counter queues, and arrive at 6:30 AM for stunning sunrise photography.
Official Tourism Resource: Official Tamil Nadu Tourism Portal →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (Filming & Travel)
2 States was shot across three primary Indian hubs: Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad Louis Kahn campus and Teen Darwaza), Chennai (Mylapore temple quarters and Madras Boat Club along the Adyar River), and West Delhi (Punjabi Bagh residential colonies).
Yes. 2 States was the first Bollywood feature film granted official permission to shoot on the real IIM Ahmedabad campus. The cast filmed inside active lecture halls, the central Louis Kahn Plaza, and student dormitories.
No. While the climax wedding was modeled after the UNESCO-protected Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, the ceremony rituals were filmed on a detailed seaside replica set on Madh Island in Mumbai because ASI regulations forbid private ceremonies inside the heritage site.
General tourist entry inside the active IIM Ahmedabad academic campus is restricted for security. However, travelers can visit with an official alumni host or explore the vibrant student food stalls and cafes lining IIM Road right outside the gates.
The South Indian family life and cultural sequences were filmed in the historic agraharam neighborhoods surrounding the 7th-century Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, Chennai.
A lifelong Indian cinema archivist, Dinesh personally investigates call sheets, director notes, and satellite telemetry to verify authentic coordinates for 2 States. All spot elevations, access roads, and transit advisories are vetted for genuine travel accuracy.
