Phone Bhoot, starring Katrina Kaif, Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi

The daily-wage workers, who had returned to Mumbai after the entertainment industry resumed work last October, have taken a beating again as the state government suspended filming till May 1. As they face economic strain while the Coronavirus cloud looms large, leading cine bodies have sprung into action to alleviate their troubles. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) is ensuring that the concerned production house bears the treatment expense for every daily-wager who has contracted the virus during the shoot of its project. 

Sharing the details, Birendra Nath Tiwari, president, FWICE, says, “A death cover of Rs 25 lakh due to COVID-19 and hospitalisation cover of Rs 2 lakh have been provided. Recently, one of our members [who was working on a television show] met with an accident on his way back home, post 18 hours of the shoot, and lost his life. We ensured his family was given the Rs 25 lakh compensation, even though he didn’t die on the sets or due to the virus. He was an assistant art designer; we have offered the same position to his wife if she wishes to take it up. As far as the members who are not working are concerned, they can contact us if they [come down with the infection]. We’ll do everything we can, in our personal capacity.”

Manish Goswami, vice-president, Producers’ Guild, believes things will take a turn for the worse if the junta curfew is extended. “In my personal capacity, I am doing whatever I can for the daily wagers. I have distributed groceries among them,” he says.

Pappu Lekhraj, who provides junior artistes to Bollywood, says the Junior Artistes’ Association was happy to see the safety measures adopted by the production houses. “Yash Raj Films was shooting two major projects [Pathan and Tiger 3] in a bio-bubble; they were testing weekly and had put up all artistes at a Goregaon hotel. Excel Entertainment had mandatory bi-weekly RT-PCR tests on the sets [of Phone Bhoot and Dongri To Dubai], and it took care of anyone who came down with the infection. The chance of contracting the virus in such set-ups was negligible,” he recounts, adding that some television shows, unfortunately, cut corners. “They rely solely on antigen tests, which is not the right yardstick. Now, most serials have shifted base to Goa, Silvassa and Rajasthan. I appraise the safety norms [employed on sets] before assigning my artistes to them.” 

With film shoots stalled in the state, Ketan Rawal — who is among the biggest vanity-van suppliers in Bollywood — has deployed about 10 vans to Marol, Malad, Dahisar and Ghatkopar, where they are being used by frontline workers. Cops on COVID-19 duty have been utilising them to change, have meals and use the restrooms during their long shifts. Each vehicle is demarcated into three distinct areas that can host up to 10 people. Rawal has about 30 more vans that can be assigned to frontline warriors, should the suspension of shoots continue.