The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has renewed its demand for criminal proceedings against filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali following the death of a worker on the set of his upcoming film Love & War, with the association's president alleging repeated safety violations and calling the incident "murder."
Carpenter Chandradhari Singh Yadav, 42, died after reportedly suffering an electric shock while working on the film's set in Mumbai on June 17. The incident has prompted demands from industry bodies for a thorough investigation into workplace safety practices on film productions.
In a fresh statement, AICWA President Suresh Shyamlal Gupta accused Bhansali and his production house of failing to provide adequate safety measures.
"On 17th June, 2026, on the set of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film Love & War, one of our workers dies... That worker died because of him. Because of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his production, he lost his life. If he had followed all safety norms on the set that day, the worker would have been among us," Gupta said.
Gupta also alleged that the latest incident reflected a pattern of safety lapses on the filmmaker's productions.
"This is not the first incident of Sanjay Leela Bhansali... On the sets of Devdas, two workers lost their lives. Then during Padmaavat, another worker died. Now another worker has died," he said.
Referring to the association's demand for criminal action, Gupta said:
"That's why we had asked for a murder case against Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Four workers are losing their lives on your set... You don't follow safety norms."
Seeks FIR registration
The remarks come days after AICWA wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking registration of an FIR against Bhansali, his production house and others found responsible. The association requested that investigators examine offences including murder, culpable homicide and negligence, while leaving the final determination to the police investigation.
In its letter, AICWA also sought ₹1 crore in compensation for Yadav's family, a high-level independent inquiry into the incident, suspension of filming until safety compliance is verified, and mandatory safety audits across film sets in Maharashtra.
Separately, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has demanded improved working conditions for film workers and an increase in compensation to ₹50 lakh, alleging that crew members are often required to work shifts lasting 16 to 18 hours.
Bhansali Productions has announced ₹40 lakh as compensation for the deceased worker's family. As of Monday, neither Bhansali nor his production house had publicly responded to Gupta's latest allegations.
No FIR charging Bhansali with murder has been registered, and authorities have not publicly concluded that criminal liability has been established.
"And this is not the first death on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's set. In 2000, his film Devdas was released. The shooting lasted for two years. In 2000, a worker died. In 2001, another worker died on his set. In 2016, his film Padmaavat was released, and a worker died on that set too. Now it's 2026. Chandrabhan Singh died on the set of his film Love and War. Four deaths, one producer's set—Sanjay Leela Bhansali's set. This is not an ordinary thing."
Suresh Shyamlal Gupta further mentioned, "We have demanded Rs 1 crore as compensation. Nothing happens with Rs 40 lakh—Rs 1 crore is needed. He has two daughters. In today's expensive times, who will take care of their upbringing? That is why we have demanded Rs 1 crore."
For the unversed, Yadav, a carpenter, died after suffering an electric shock on the set of "Love & War" at Film City in Mumbai. Sanjay Leela Bhansali Productions has offered Rs 40 lakh as compensation to his family. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
