Blaze engulfs temporary structure at Mumbai Film City during reality show shoots

The Incident

A fire broke out on Monday afternoon in a temporary structure located behind Prime Focus Studio at Film City in the Goregaon area of Mumbai. The blaze started around four o'clock in the evening and was brought under control after more than an hour of work by the Mumbai Fire Brigade and other agencies, who finally doused it completely at forty-five minutes past four. Authorities confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. The flames burned through various materials inside the structure, including electric wiring, installations, cables, doors, wooden planks, air conditioning units, bamboo, plastic items, sound equipment, and shooting props.

Sets Affected

The All Indian Cine Workers Association stated that the fire affected the set of the Colors reality show Pati Patni Aur Panga Season Two. Meanwhile, the team behind MTV Hustle Five reported that their grand finale shoot was happening at the same time, with all connected artists present on location, including Badshah, EPR, MC Square, Paradox, and Agsy. A source from the Pati Patni Aur Panga team clarified that the fire occurred outside the actual shooting area and that no filming was underway there at that moment. The incident also coincided with singer Nikita Gandhi being photographed by the paparazzi at the venue. Both production teams confirmed that everyone was safely evacuated following the sudden outbreak.

Demands and Action

AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta claimed that the fire resulted from a lack of proper fire-safety measures and described the event as criminal negligence rather than an accident. He wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding a time-bound inquiry, an official police case against the channel, producer, and production house, and the resignation of the Film City Managing Director. The association also urged the state government to mandate safety audits, on-site firefighting staff, and proper equipment for every shoot, while calling for the cancellation of licences for productions that fail to follow safety rules.

Context

Film City in Goregaon is a massive entertainment hub hosting numerous television and film sets simultaneously, making strict safety compliance essential for protecting large crews. Temporary structures built with wood, plastic, and wiring are particularly vulnerable to sudden electrical hazards. Industry bodies frequently push for stricter enforcement of safety regulations following such incidents to prevent potential disasters.