A strike by members of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), the apex body of various industry workers’ unions, has stalled the shooting of Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming Dilwale, Aamir Khan’s Dangal and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani.
Called by FWICE along with the Cine and Television Artistes Association, the strike is being held to demand better wages and improved working conditions. Shoots for other films and television projects in Mumbai and other cities were also held up.
Members from nearly 22 associations, including the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, Association of Film and TV Editors, Cine Costume and Make-up Artist, Hair Dresser Association, Film Writers’ Association, Western India Cinematographers Association, Cine Dance Association and others, also participated in the strike on Saturday.
“There is no shooting taking place at Film City (a film studio), Madh Island and other places in Mumbai. We requested makers of Bajirao Mastani (shooting ongoing at Film City, Mumbai), Dilwale being shot in Hyderabad, Dangal (shooting underway in Haryana) to stop shooting and they agreed. The stars have always been supportive,” B N Tiwari, President of the Sound Association of India, said.
“Beside movie shootings, filming of several songs and TV shows like Maharana Pratap have been affected,” he said.
Friction between the producers association and FWICE has been ongoing since February when the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties expired and they failed to reach to an agreement on its renewal.
Earlier, the FWICE had reportedly issued an ultimatum to the producers saying that if they do not sign the long-pending MoU by October 2, all its 22 affiliates will go on indefinite strike starting from October 3.
Tiwari said negotiations with the producers are on and they held a meeting on October 3 to resolve the issue.
He added they do not want stretch the strike as it is the workers and artists who work on a per-day payment who will suffer the most.
“We will try to resolve it at the earliest,” Tiwari added.
