The much awaited film Love & War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal, has been hit by a heartbreaking tragedy. A 42 year old carpenter named Chandradhari Singh Yadav lost his life after suffering a severe electric shock while working on the film’s set in Mumbai’s Film City. The incident took place in the early hours of June 17 at Royal Pump Studio, where shooting was reportedly underway. Initial reports suggest that a short circuit may have caused the fatal accident.
Yadav is survived by his wife and two young daughters, leaving the family devastated by the sudden loss. Following the tragedy, Bhansali Productions announced financial assistance of ₹40 lakh for the family. While the gesture has been appreciated, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, commonly known as FWICE, believes more support is needed to secure the family’s future.
FWICE President BN Tiwari has urged the production house to increase the compensation amount to ₹50 lakh. According to him, the additional financial support would help cover the education and future needs of Yadav’s daughters. Tiwari also stressed that the incident should serve as a wake up call for the film industry to improve safety standards for workers and technicians on sets. He described Yadav as a highly skilled technician and said it was tragic that he lost his life in such circumstances.
The federation has also requested that Bhansali Productions provide employment to Yadav’s wife. FWICE believes that offering her a job would give the family a stable source of income and help them rebuild their lives after the tragedy.
Adding to the concern, FWICE General Secretary Ashok Dubey revealed that Yadav had reportedly been working extremely long hours before the accident. He claimed that the technician was on duty from 7 am until 3 am the next day and had followed the same demanding schedule for three straight days. The federation says such exhausting work conditions can put workers at serious risk and has called for stricter regulations on daily working hours.
Along with demanding better compensation, FWICE is pushing for stronger safety checks and improved working conditions across film sets. The organization wants production houses to ensure that technicians and crew members are not overworked and that safety measures are regularly monitored.
Despite the controversy, Love & War remains one of Bollywood’s most anticipated films. The big budget period drama stars Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal and is scheduled for release on January 21, 2027, in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.