By – Shubhendra Singh Rajawat
Mumbai, June 23 – A massive fire broke out early this morning on the set of the popular Hindi television show Anupama, causing widespread panic and significant damage to property. The incident occurred at approximately 5 AM at the show’s set located near the Film City Office in Goregaon. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as no crew or cast members were present at the time—only security personnel were on site.
Five fire brigades were deployed to control the blaze, which took several hours to bring under control. While the flames were eventually doused, the set suffered extensive losses. Notably, the adjacent set of actor Amar Upadhyay’s show Doree narrowly escaped the fire.
Following the incident, Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) President BN Tiwari made strong allegations, claiming that such fires seem less accidental and more orchestrated. Speaking to Amar Ujala Digital, he stated, “Every time a set catches fire, insurance claims are made. It has become a common practice. These incidents look more planned than accidental.”
Tiwari further alleged that fire safety protocols in Film City are mere formalities. “No proper fire safety audit is conducted. Gas cylinders are stored without checking expiry dates, and fire extinguishers are just for show,” he said.
Highlighting that similar incidents have occurred in the past, he added, “Even reputed filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali have allegedly set their sets on fire for insurance claims. This needs to stop before it becomes an industry-wide malpractice.”
Tiwari has called for immediate action, announcing that FWICE will take this matter seriously and won’t stay silent this time. “We are meeting with the Film City MD and the Health & Safety Department today. This will not be brushed under the carpet. If required, the matter will be taken to court,” he asserted.
While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, Tiwari questioned the narrative that the fire started from the south side of the set, stating that no clear report has emerged yet. “We cannot continue to rely on luck. What if this had happened when people were working on set? It could have been deadly,” he said.
Attempts to contact producer Rajan Shahi and his team for a statement went unanswered.
With the fire sparking a debate on negligence and alleged misuse of insurance policies in the entertainment industry, all eyes are now on how the authorities and the production house respond in the coming days.