Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; October 27, 2014)

A day after a major fire gutted the sets of Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, the producers have reportedly decided to incorporate the mishap as part of the script. The incident took place in the Killick Nixon Studio, Chandivali, apparently set by a misfired cracker. The blaze quickly spread to the other parts of the studio and destroyed the show’s main set. However, no casualty was reported.

A source from the channel said, “We are modifying our story track. The Bhalla house, which was our main set, has been completely damaged in the incident. So, now the shoot will shift to service apartments in SJ Studio nearby temporarily as reconstruction of the Bhalla house will take at least a month and half.” A unit member said costumes for several Balaji shows were stored in the godown that caught fire and are now unusable. The compressors of the set’s air conditioners are said to have exploded while the lights fell off as the blaze picked up intensity. “About three to four make-up rooms have also been destroyed while the editing room has been partially damaged,” said another source.

Meanwhile, actors of the Balaji Telefilms’ show were back to shoot the very next day of the fire. An actor of the show said, “We were quite shaken by the incident but reported to work the next day. Like they say, the show must go on.”

Dilip Pithwa, general secretary of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, said the extent of property loss would easily run into crores of rupees. “But I really cannot put a figure to it. Thankfully, none was injured,” he added.