The death of a worker on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s upcoming film ‘Love and War’ has triggered a major controversy. Now, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has demanded an FIR against the director and a high-level investigation into the incident.
AICWA writes to Maharashtra CM, demanding FIR against Sanjay Leela Bhansali
In a formal letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, AICWA’s Gupta sought the registration of an FIR against Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the production house, and all individuals found responsible for the worker’s death. According to the NDTV report, the association flagged the absence of clarity around the incident, noting that “complete and verified details regarding their condition and the exact circumstances of the event have not yet been clearly established.“Calling for a “thorough, impartial and high-level investigation,” AICWA stated that the incident has raised serious concerns about workplace safety on film sets. “Had the required safety measures been strictly implemented and enforced, this tragic incident could possibly have been avoided,” the letter stated.Yadav is survived by his wife and two minor daughters. AICWA has demanded Rs 1 crore in compensation for the family, along with employment or financial assistance for his widow and long-term financial support for his daughters’ future security.The association has also urged the Maharashtra government to halt all shooting activities at the location until a comprehensive safety audit is completed and mandatory safety norms are certified by the relevant authorities.
What happened on the ‘Love and War’ set?
Carpenter Chandradhari Singh Yadav, 42, reportedly died on June 17 during the shoot of Love and War at Royal Pump Studio near Film City in Mumbai. While the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) had earlier stated that Yadav died after suffering an electric shock, AICWA President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta has now contradicted that account. As per the report, Gupta alleged that the worker died after a portion of the set structure or roof collapsed and claimed that several other workers were also injured in the incident.
Previous accidents on Sanjay Leela Bhansali sets cited
Gupta also cited alleged past incidents linked to Bhansali’s productions, claiming that similar worker fatalities were reported during the making of Devdas and Padmaavat. AICWA further alleged that film workers are routinely made to work in unsafe conditions and that inadequate safety supervision significantly increases the risk of on-set accidents.The production house is yet to issue an official response to AICWA’s demands.
