Ram Setu, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Mr Lele shoot halt after leads test positive

A still from Gangubai Kathiawadi

It is difficult to keep the wheels of the entertainment industry turning with several leading stars testing positive for COVID-19 over the past week, despite following the necessary precautions. The week began with Khiladi Akshay Kumar announcing that he had contracted the virus. With the superstar hospitalised and almost 45 members in the crew testing positive, the shoot of Ram Setu has screeched to a halt.

A source close to the Abhishek Sharma-directed project reveals that two sets had been erected at Madh Island and Film City in Goregaon. "Akshay had recently wrapped up the Madh Island stint with Jacqueline Fernandez and Nushrratt Bharuccha, and was to begin the Film City leg this week. The makers have decided to keep the set standing until they resume shooting a fortnight later," adds the source. Mr Lele is another project that derailed soon after it went on floors, with Vicky Kaushal and Bhumi Pednekar coming down with the infection on Monday.

Akshay Kumar in Ram Setu

Gangubai Kathiawadi's long journey to its culmination continues. After filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was in the clear in late March, the team resumed work on the biopic. A source reveals, "Now, the last schedule is suspended again with Alia Bhatt having contracted the virus." On the upside, work on Prabhas's Adipurush, Taapsee Pannu's Shabaash Mithu and Amitabh Bachchan's Goodbye is on in full swing. Kartik Aaryan, who has recovered from the illness, will resume work on Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 later this week.

Kartik Aaryan

Bollywood will have to exercise more caution as Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray introduced additional on-set restrictions on Sunday. BN Tiwari, Federation of Western India Cine Employees president, who was among those attending the virtual meeting with Thackeray, reveals that shoots can only be conducted during the weekdays. "Strict action will be taken against those filming over the weekend. Only indoor shoots are allowed, and filming of crowd scenes is barred," says Tiwari.

Akshay's Sooryavanshi deferred again

The makers announced that Sooryavanshi, slated to hit screens on April 30, has been postponed again in the wake of the second round of theatre shutdown. The decision comes after director Rohit Shetty joined Thackeray's virtual meeting with Marathi and Hindi film and TV producers on Sunday, where the latter discussed the way ahead for entertainment amid the rising cases in the state. Kunal Sawhney, senior VP Operations, Carnival Cinemas, says that movie halls are the worst hit by the new restrictions. "Cinemas have to remain shut till April 30. We had started seeing a jump in footfall with Mumbai Saga and Godzilla vs Kong. We have requested the government to inform us 10 days in advance whether theatres can reopen after April 30 so that makers can plan their releases."