Second Covid-19 wave-caused weekend lockdowns: TV and film industry to lose about Rs 10 crore every weekend if shoots remain cancelled – Eagles Vine

The new diktat of no shootings during the weekend is going to hit producers of all platforms in a big way. JD Majethia of Indian Film And Television Producers Council said, “TV units shoot at least two episodes in three days. With the weekend shooting coming to a halt and we not knowing when it is going to be lifted, TV industry is going to lose at least Rs 5 crore every weekend. If we don’t shoot on the weekends the number of episode deliverables will also come down. But if we consider OTT and film shoot, the industry is losing about Rs 10 crore every weekend and here it also depends on the scale of the film and the artists involved in it.”

With the situation getting grim and the Maharashtra government looking at planning to add some more restrictions on film and television shootings, quite a few shootings are shifting to South India. A source said, “Some big films are planning to shift and complete shooting of their films to the south especially those scenes which requires more unit members as Maharashtra government has put a hold on crowding on sets.”

With Covid cases rising and shootings cancelled, the producers will have to bear the cost as there is no way they are going to be reimbursed by the insurance companies and will have to bear the rental costs for sets and medical expenses of the cast and crew if infected with Covid.

In the last 15 days, at least eight stars including Akshay Kumar, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar, Katrina Kaif have tested positive with Covid, and TV shows like ‘Dance Deewane’, ‘Indian Idol’, ‘Anupama’, and ‘Wagle Ki Duniya’ have also been struck with cases on the sets.