Upcoming schedule of an international film was cancelled, crew asked to return home
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 14, 2020)

Veteran action director Sham Kaushal had flown to Dhaka on March 10 to begin work on an international film, titled The Battle For Bengal. Four days before the production was to roll, the makers have postponed the shoot because of the coronavirus scare.

Speaking to Mirror from a Dhaka airport, Kaushal said the film’s crew was instructed to go back to their home countries as soon as possible. “The film is being made by an LA-based producer with the support of the Bangladesh government. The crew, including the London-based director Richie Mehta and Fast & Furious cinematographer Amir Mokri, were in Dhaka too. We were returning from a recce in Chattogram (a city 40-minute plane ride away from Dhaka), when we were informed about the cancellation,” he said.

The stunt master went on to share that he managed to secure a return ticket for himself and his assistants with great difficulty, while the Bangladesh government arranged for a chartered flight to bring the rest of the Indian crew members to Kolkata. “I would urge people to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary,” Kaushal said, adding that his son, Vicky, was in touch with him all through the journey.