Victoria Midwinter Pitt's 2009 documentary Surviving Mumbai became the source of inspiration for Hotel Mumbai director, Anthony Maras. Having helmed several acclaimed award-winning shorts, including the 2011 thriller The Palace, Maras was so driven by the documentary on the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that he spent six months interacting with survivors, and researching for the Dev Patel and Anupam Kher starrer.

"We got access to transcripts, tapes, [and interactions with] survivors. It was important to be well-versed with what exactly happened. Talking to people was a year-long process. We stayed at the Taj Hotel for a month while we interviewed survivors, cops and hotel staff. This film is not a documentary. It was meant to be an emotional ride that makes one feel empathy," he says.