05 July,2026 12:57 PM IST | Mumbai | Akshita Maheshwari
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At some point during the aughts, Randeep Hooda was reportedly offered his debut role by Ram Gopal Varma in a now-shelved film Ek, in the famous Barista at Versova. Rumour has it that Varma would often cast actors there.
Versova has always been a hub for cinema and theatre artistes, to easily hop between auditions, pre-production meetings, and shoots.
It also houses cafés that have become the go-to spots for these artistes, where they mingle, network, and find their next projects. In a new Reel, filmmaker Aditya Kripalani makes a call to ask people what cafés they have been frequenting these days. Inspired by him, we give you a list of places where you can go, if you're a cine artiste and want to meet others.
Cherry & Chocolatte is rarely loud, but it is never empty either. Listen closely and you will hear conversations about auditions, independent films, and theatre productions happening all around you. In an industry built on chance encounters, the person on the table next to you in this café may very well end up becoming your collaborator
This one is not a café. There are no comfortable chairs, no artisanal coffee and certainly no free Wi-Fi. Yet, every evening, the small tea stall near the Mandir-Masjid square on Yari Road becomes one of the liveliest gathering spots for cine artistes in the neighbourhood. Actors fresh from auditions, assistant directors heading home, and writers looking for a break all eventually find their way here. People stand around with cutting chai and snacks, catching up on industry gossip, and discussing their next projects. It is an old-fashioned adda in the truest sense of the word.
Part café, part cultural space, Barmecha House has become one of Versova's most beloved creative hubs. The space frequently hosts workshops, readings, performances, and intimate gatherings that attract writers, actors, and filmmakers alike. Unlike a conventional café where people come and go, Barmecha House encourages you to stay. It feels less like a business and more like someone's warm, slightly eccentric living room where creative people keep dropping by. That sense of community is what makes it special. In a city that can often feel lonely and transactional, places like Barmecha House remind artistes why they moved to Versova in the first place: to be around other people who are making things.
The back section of Project Hum, with its skylight and cosy corners, feels like it was designed specifically for freelancers. On any given afternoon, you will find screenwriters hunched over laptops, actors reading scripts, and filmmakers taking meetings over coffee. The sweet potato fries have developed something of a cult following, but the real attraction is the atmosphere.
