Lucknow -- It served as a backdrop for Bollywood blockbuster "Omkara" and now the cameras are set to roll again at the Lucknow University campus for the shooting of "NRI".

The producer of the film, which stars Sunny Deol, Om Puri and Pankaj Kapur, has already paid an advance of Rs.100,000 to hire the campus for shooting.

Members of the faculty feel the impressive oriental structures at the university and the serene surroundings have been attracting filmmakers.

"Main, Meri Patni, Aur Woh" with Rajpal Yadav and Rituparna Sengupta in the lead and Pankaj Kapoor's "Kahan, Kahan Se Guzar Gaya" were also shot there.

"Earlier we had not charged any money for use of the campus, but now we have imposed a fee of Rs.20,000 per day for the shoot," vice chancellor R.P. Singh told IANS.

"After all, the university has the right to earn some revenue if people are going to make much greater amounts out of it," he said.

Even other staff members feel the money earned could be put to good use.

"We could utilise the revenue generated through film shootings for the upkeep and maintenance of the architecturally rich 120-year-old university buildings," said Nishi Pandey, a member of the proctorial board.

The vice chancellor is now all set to prepare a blueprint for the overall beautification of the campus, having succeeded in expelling more than 100 "criminals in the garb of students".

While the shooting of "NRI" is yet to start, Singh has constituted a five-member committee to provide assistance to the filmmaker.

Asked what measures the authorities would take to prevent actors from being mobbed, university proctor A.N. Singh said: "It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of the actors and the film unit and we will ensure it."

About the unruly behaviour of some student leaders during the shooting of "Omkara", he said: "That kind of element is already out of the university."