MUMBAI, Sept 9: The cast of 'Lucknow Central' faced a strange set of challenges while shooting the film. A two-acre set, resembling the real Lucknow Central Jail, was erected over a span of three months at a suburban studio in Mumbai. The cast, including Farhan Akhtar, Gippy Grewal, Deepak Dobriyal, Rajesh Sharma, Diana Penty, Rohit Roy and Innamulhaq, spent an extensive period shooting there.

Farhan, known to get into the skin of his characters, plays a Bhojpuri singer in the Ranjit Tiwari directorial, for which he even picked up the nuances of the dialect. However, this wasn't as difficult for the actor, known for his performances in films like 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara' and 'Dil Dhadakne Do'.

A lot the actor-filmmaker's films have been shot on outdoor locations. So, shooting for a prolonged period in a confined space became a bigger challenge for him. Also, filming on a set that resembles a prison had its own psychological effects on the cast. After a point, Farhan and his four inmate friends felt claustrophobic while shooting at the location. 

Farhan said, "Most of my films have been shot at outdoor locations. This was a different experience for me. Shooting on a set that resembles a real prison impacted us. During the intensive, long schedule that lasted over a month, we would shoot between eight and twelve hours every day. For most of our portions, we were confined within four walls. Stepping out for fresh air was a relief. Through the shoot, we thought about people who do not have the choice to come out at all."

 
• 'bhaag milkha bhaag'
 
• 'zindagi na milegi dobaara'
 
• 'dil dhadakne do'