Mumbai: A film workers’ body has sought an FIR against the makers of Pati Patni Aur Panga 2 after Monday’s fire at Mumbai’s Film City, alleging serious lapses in safety.
The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for an FIR against Colors, producer Nikul Desai and production house Story Weaver Collective. It has also sought a time-bound inquiry into the fire and the resignation of Film City’s managing director.
The fire broke out around 4 pm in the Prime Focus Studio area at Film City in Goregaon on 5 September. No injuries have been reported, but smoke reached nearby sets and disrupted shoots.
Amitabh Bachchan was shooting for Kaun Banega Crorepati and had to leave the set. Badshah, Samarth Jurel and contestants shooting the MTV Hustle 5 finale were also evacuated.
AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta said the problem was bigger than one fire.
“No set has fire safety [measures] or fire officers. Film City should appoint them. We are lucky that nobody died. But are we waiting for someone to die before we put fire officers on every set?” Gupta told Mid-day.
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Lack of fire-safety arrangements
Film City’s own fire-safety rules already require temporary sets to have a fire marshal, fire warden or fire-safety officer present throughout working hours. The rules also require fire extinguishers, access for fire engines and other precautions. Larger temporary structures can be required to keep fire engines on standby.
AICWA has alleged that the Pati Patni Aur Panga 2 set did not have adequate fire-safety arrangements. In its letter to Fadnavis, the association called the fire “criminal negligence” and said licences should be cancelled if productions do not follow safety rules.
The Pati Patni Aur Panga 2 team has disputed that account. It said the fire broke out outside the set and that there was no shoot underway there at the time.
“Yes, there was a fire outside the sets. There were no casualties. Nobody was shooting at the set of Pati Patni Aur Panga. There was no shoot happening,” the team said.
AICWA said the fire disrupted work across Film City, including other serial and film shoots. It also said daily-wage technicians, junior artistes and crew members lost earnings when shoots were halted.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)