A worker died on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War in Mumbai on June 17. Now the All Indian Cine Workers Association has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, asking for a criminal case against Bhansali, compensation for the family, and a full safety audit of the production.
What the letter says
AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta wrote the letter and the association posted it on X. The letter does not hold back.
“The incident has raised serious concerns regarding the implementation of workplace safety measures on film shooting sets. Despite the film being a large-scale production featuring prominent actors such as Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Alia Bhatt, mandatory safety norms were not followed on the set, resulting in the unfortunate death of a worker. Had the required safety measures been strictly implemented and enforced, this tragic incident could possibly have been avoided,” the letter stated.
Date: 23 June 2026
To
Honourable Shri Devendra Fadnavis
Chief Minister
Government of MaharashtraSubject: Request for Registration of FIR Against Producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the Production House for the Death of Worker Chandradhari Singh Yadav During the Shooting of Love… pic.twitter.com/9XayOgitFD
— All Indian Cine Workers Association (@aicwaofficial) June 23, 2026
The association is asking for an FIR to be registered against Bhansali, the production house, and all persons found responsible. The charges cited include murder, culpable homicide, negligence, and other applicable legal provisions.
Who Chandradhari Singh Yadav was
The letter names the deceased as Chandradhari Singh Yadav, who died on June 17, 2026, on the Love and War set.
Gupta mentioned in the letter that Yadav is survived by his wife and two minor daughters. He was the sole earning member of the family. His death has left them without financial support.
The AICWA has asked the Chief Minister to ensure Rs 1 crore in compensation for the family. The association also asked that the widow be given suitable employment or financial assistance, and that long-term support be provided for the upbringing and welfare of both daughters.
Not the first time, says AICWA
Gupta’s letter draws a direct line between this incident and previous deaths reportedly linked to Bhansali productions.
He wrote: “This incident is not isolated. Over the years, several serious incidents have been reported on film sets associated with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”
The letter lists three earlier cases. During the production of Devdas between 2000 and 2001, worker Dindayal Yadav reportedly lost his life and another worker sustained serious injuries. In 2001, worker Subhash Morkar also reportedly died during the same production. During the making of Padmaavat, worker Mukesh Dakiya, aged 34, reportedly died in a workplace accident.
The association says these incidents, taken together, point to a pattern rather than an isolated tragedy.
What AICWA is asking the CM to do
The demands in the letter go beyond the immediate case. Gupta has asked for a high-level independent inquiry into the June 17 incident and a comprehensive safety audit of the Love and War set.
He has also asked for all shooting at the location to be suspended until safety compliance is verified by competent authorities. Resumption of work, the letter states, should only be permitted after full certification.
Beyond the specific production, AICWA is pushing for mandatory safety audits across all film sets in Maharashtra and strict enforcement of existing workplace safety laws to prevent future incidents.
About ‘Love and War’
Love and War is one of the most closely watched productions in Bollywood right now. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, and Alia Bhatt and is being directed by Bhansali. Few details about the plot have been made public. The production has been underway in Mumbai for several months.
No official response from Bhansali’s production house or from the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s office has been issued publicly at the time of writing.