Mumbai: Film, TV shoots disrupted due to Dalit protests; Bollywood celebs condemn shutdown

Bandh was called in Maharashtra on Wednesday by several Dalit groups protesting against the violence that occurred at Bhima-Koregaon on January 1, 2017.

Pic courtesy: Reuters

Mumbai: The state-wide shutdown called by Dalit groups on Wednesday disrupted the shooting schedule of film and TV projects in Mumbai.

The shooting of three television shows "Piyaa Albela", "Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahi Kahi" and "Kundali Bhagya", was interrupted, while some of the shoots went on as per schedule.

According to a channel source, the cast and crew of Zee TV's popular show "Kundali Bhagya" reached for the schedule at the Killick Nixon studio in Marol, but the protesters started pelting stones and disrupted the shoot, IANS reported.

The shoot of "Piyaa Albela", which was supposed to happen at the Basra Studio, had to be rescheduled. It is shot at a studio located in Kandivali where violence has been reported. 

At the "Aisi Deewangi Dekhi Nahi Kahi" shoot at the Future Studio, located at Goregaon East, work was disrupted because of stone-pelting by the protesters, the channel source said.

Two film-related events were also been cancelled to avoid the disrupted situation in the city. "Due to Maharashtra bandh today, we have decided to push our 'My Birthday Song' trailer release to tomorrow January 4, 2018. Thank you," tweeted the movie's producer and actor Sanjay Suri.

Due to #MaharashtraBandh today we have decided to push our #MyBirthdaySongTrailer release to tomorrow 4th Jan '2018 Thank you.

— sanjay suri (@sanjaysuri) January 3, 2018

Even the song launch of director Luv Ranjan's upcoming film "Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety" was cancelled. Protesters had also gathered outside the Film City gate.

Asked if the shooting is affected by the situation, Ashoke Pandit, member of Indian Films and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) said, "Shootings at Film City, Madh area have been cancelled as the unit members, especially the actors, could not reach the venue due to the situation outside." He had also tweeted, "Film and TV shootings have come to a halt."

#Film & #Tvshootings have come to a halt at #FilmCity #Madh & other locations as the unit members couldn’t reach the sets and due to fear of violence. #Sad. #BhimaKoregaonViolence

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) January 3, 2018

Other film celebrities like Rahul Dholakia, Anubhav Sinha and Pulkit Samrat also condemned the Maharashtra shutdown.

Caste Politics, Hindu-Muslim politics- and Class politics - will eventually Destroy India. The Power to rule is dangerous!! CINEMA doesn't Kill Politics Does !

— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) January 2, 2018

The only good outcome of the tragedies for the past two days in Maharashtra is that People are now openly criticizing 'Divisive Politics'.

— Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) January 3, 2018

And now the mortals of same faith fight over caste! We can find a reason. Always! Sigh....!! #MaharashtraBandh

— Pulkit Samrat (@PulkitSamrat) January 3, 2018

The bandh was called on Wednesday by several Dalit groups protesting against the violence that occurred at Bhima-Koregaon near Pune on January 1, 2017.

Clashes between Dalit groups and supporters of 'right-wing Hindu organisations' during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Pune district had left a man dead.

In Pune, cases were registered by the Pimpri police against Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, who heads the Hindu Ekta Aghadi and Shivraj Pratishthan respectively, for allegedly inciting the violence. The two organisations had opposed the celebration of "British victory" in the battle.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a judicial inquiry by a sitting judge of the Bombay High Court into the violence. He has also said that a Rs 10 lakh compensation would be given to kin of the youth killed and his death would be probed by the CID.

(With Agency inputs)