Cylone Tauktae leads to heavy losses, sets affected amid the pandemic
Cyclone Tauktae, which hit Maharashtra, led to a lot of destruction, amid the already ravaging Covid pandemic. While shoots were on hold in the state, sets of various films and television shows were affecting by the cyclone.
Producer Boney Kapoor had told us about the losses he had to face because of the destruction on Maidaan’s sets, the film starring Ajay Devgn. Similarly, sets of Salman Khan’s Tiger 3, Ranbir Kapoor’s Brahmastra and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, too, have been damaged.
BN Tiwari, president, Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), says, “People might have gone somewhere else to shoot, but all the sets were still erected in the compound of Film City. Leaving Mumbai was temporary and teams were planning to come back once the restrictions were lifted. Nuksaan toh kafi hua hai.”
This destruction would mean increased costs for the makers, who had already been incurring losses. “The producers’ federation wants the government to give permission to do the repairs, as the longer it’s delayed, the higher the losses will be. The artists anyway won’t go inside just the few people for the repairs. We’re requesting the government to allow it so work can begin the moment we can resume shoots. The Mumbai rains will start soon as well,” Tiwari reasons.
Apart from films, sets of many TV shows too have been impacted. JD Majethia, chairman, TV division of IFTPC, and producer of the on-air show Wagle Ki Duniya, reveals the losses he had to bear. “The cyclone broke the bordering wall, there was also a hole in the roof. We had started thinking through in advance. Thankfully, we’re shooting in Silvassa. A couple of people from our team were already there and they’re looking after the set,” he says.
A source tells us about more sets which had to face damage. “Another Aditya Chopra production (apart from Tiger 3) had a set erected in Film City, which has been damaged. Apart from that, the TV show Mere Sai has also suffered,” we are told.
Producer of shows Happu Ki Paltan and Bhabhiji Ghar Par Hain, Binaifer Kohli reveals the cyclone led to her sets being affected, too. “In Naigaon, since the set is on lower level, water came in and the roof, too, has been damaged. But you’ve to handle things and move ahead. People are facing worse problems. These are huge losses and isn’t easy at all,” she says.