A worker’s death on the set of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film Love & War has led film industry unions to seek stronger support for his family and raise questions about safety on film sets.
Chandradhari Yadav, a 42-year-old carpenter, died while working at Royal Pump Studio in Goregaon East, Mumbai. The incident took place in the early hours of June 17, reportedly around 3 am.
Representatives of the Film Studio Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union said the exact cause of death is still not confirmed. Initial accounts suggest that Yadav may have suffered an electric shock, possibly because of a short circuit. Authorities are waiting for the post-mortem report for a clearer finding.
Compensation offered to the family
Yadav is survived by his wife and two daughters. After the incident, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees and the Film Studio Setting and Allied Mazdoor Union approached the makers of Love & War for financial help and support for the family.
The production house has reportedly offered Rs 40 lakhs as compensation. Union representatives, however, have said the family needs longer-term assistance, especially for the children’s education and the widow’s future livelihood.
FWICE president B.N. Tiwari said, according to a TOI report, that the unions have asked the producer to take responsibility for the education of Yadav’s children. He also pointed to long working hours as a concern for workers on film sets.
Tiwari said workers are often made to work beyond the prescribed eight to ten hours and added that human limits must be respected. He said the federation would decide its next step after the post-mortem report is available.
Union claims long working hours before incident
FWICE honorary general secretary Ashok Dubey said Yadav had been working continuously on the set for several days. According to Dubey, Yadav had been on duty from 7 am until around 3 am on the day of the incident.
Dubey said people present at the set claimed Yadav suffered an electric shock and was taken to a hospital, where he died. The federation has also requested that Yadav’s wife be considered for employment within the production house.
The unions have asked for compensation and other steps to help the family manage after the loss of its earning member. Their requests include education support for the children and work for Yadav’s wife, as stated by union representatives.
Calls for safety checks on film sets
Ashoke Pandit, president of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association and chief advisor to FWICE, said regular inspections are needed on sets. He referred to electrical wiring, cabling and other safety-related checks, noting that 150 to 200 workers are often present on a film set.
Pandit said producer bodies, studios and government authorities have been urged to carry out audits and ensure compliance with fire, electrical and structural safety norms. He also called for comprehensive standard operating procedures for film sets.
The film Love & War is being directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The reported death of a carpenter during production has now placed attention on the working conditions faced by technicians, carpenters and other crew members who help build and run large film sets.
For now, the post-mortem report is awaited. The unions have indicated that their next decision will depend on the findings and on how the production house responds to the support requested for Yadav’s family.
Source: Bollywood Hungama.