Serial shoots disrupted, actors stuck on the sets

Mumbai was on the edge yesterday due to a bandh called by some political groups and protesters causing disruptions by pelting stones and shutting shops at various places. Consequently, the shoot of several serials was affected across the city — while some were cancelled, others like Piya Albela shifted their timings. Serials that cancelled their shoots include Haasil, Ikyawann, Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki, Ishqbaaz, Meri Hanikarak Biwi, Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hai, Vani Rani  and Kundali Bhagya, among others. While some actors who managed to reach the sets early in the morning shot for their serials unhindered, others despite being on the sets had to call for a pack-up as mobs barged inside the studios and forced them to shut down!

Sanjay Kapoor, who plays the lead role in Dil Sambhal Jaa Zara, reached the sets at Kanjurmarg at 8 am and shot for an episode. “It was fine in the morning, but later everything shut. So, even though I reached the set, my lunch from home got stuck. Even the food that’s served on the sets was unavailable, so we had to shoot without food. But the show must go on,” he says.  However, for those who were shooting in Killick Nixon in Sakinaka it was nothing short of a nightmare! Ssharad

Malhotra who is seen in Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki had reached the sets in the morning and was putting on his make-up when there was disruption. “I heard a lot of commotion, there was a mob of around 200-300 people outside the studio gates demanding we shut down the shoot. So, the producer called for a pack-up, but still the situation was frightening. They were pelting stones at cars and I saw buses burning,” he recounts clearly shaken up.

For Manit Joura, who was shooting for Kundali Bhagya, it was a scary experience. “ I am facing this kind of a thing for the first time. When I reached the sets at 9 am, everything was fine. But, suddenly a mob barged onto the sets with lathis. The shoot was cancelled, but we were stuck as the mob was stopping vehicles and throwing stones and pieces of wood. We were advised to stay put and as a security measure the main door was chained. It was a very bad situation,” he says.

Pranav Misshra of Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahi Kahi also reached Future Studios in Jogeshwari only to have the shoot disrupted. “There was tod-phod outside the studio, and shops were forcibly shut down. There was a mob outside. It was saddening and I was worried about the situation. The government officials need to take strong measures to control these things,” he quips. Namish Taneja of Ikyawann was lucky. He was on his way to Film City for the shoot, when he got a call from the executive producer advising him to return home as protesters were not allowing anybody to enter the premises. “Thankfully I reached home safely,” he says relieved.

Nikita Dutta, who was travelling to Powai for the shoot of Haasil left home at 10 am and was stuck in traffic for four hours! She says, “I stay in Bandra but I couldn’t even reach the airport in one hour. I informed the producers  that I’ll be late. However, within half-an-hour I got a message saying the shoot is cancelled. But there was such a huge traffic jam that I couldn’t even take a u-turn. Also, mobs ghearaoed my car and weren’t letting me go, finally after going round and round, I reached home around 1.30 pm. I was scared because there was nobody with me.”

Her co-star Vatsal Sheth, on the other hand, was about to leave the house when he got the message that the entire unit is stuck at Hiranandani and shoot has been cancelled. Since his in-laws weren’t well he went with them to the hospital but got stuck in the traffic on the way back. “My house is just five minutes away, but I had to take a detour as the protesters were obstructing vehicles. I have nothing  against protests, but they should be peaceful,” he shares.

Ishqbaaz producers canned one shoot at Malvani as there was unrest there but another unit continued to shoot at Madh

Island. Nakuul Mehta who is part of the serial says, “The problem of closing down the shoot midway is the danger of travelling on roads for the rest of the unit. It’s challenging as we have deadlines and telecast to meet. Hoping Mumbai can find a peaceful end to this without any more damage,” he says.

Producer Sumeet Mittal whose two serials Dil Se Dil Tak and Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai were being shot at two different places was happy that the former’s shoot was not affected. “That was shot in an enclosed compound at Mira Road, so there was no problem. But Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai’s shoot is in Film City, which got affected. Since we have a bank of episodes for a couple of days, it’s not an issue,” he informs.

According to JD Majethia, head of the TV unit of the Indian Film & Television Producers Council (IFTPC), the areas where mobs had a strong presence, the shoot was affected, elsewhere it continued uninterrupted. “However, the TV industry is strong and all the telecast deadlines will be met,” he signs off.