Mumbai: The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has urged film producers and production houses to strengthen security arrangements at shooting locations following the firing incident involving actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai. The federation has issued an advisory calling for stricter access controls, thorough background checks and verification of crew members to improve safety across the film and television industry.
The advisory comes amid growing concerns about threats and attacks involving prominent film personalities, including Tiger Shroff, Salman Khan and filmmaker Rohit Shetty. FWICE has asked producers to ensure that people engaged for film projects are properly identified and their professional credentials verified before they are allowed to work on sets.
The federation has also stressed the importance of maintaining accurate records of crew members and introducing precautionary measures at studios, film sets and other shooting locations. It has called for suspicious activity and potential threats to be reported promptly to security agencies and law enforcement authorities.
FWICE said safety measures must cover everyone working at a production site, rather than focusing exclusively on actors and other high-profile personalities. Technicians, artists, directors, producers, workers and other personnel should also receive adequate protection.
FWICE calls for stricter verification of crew members
In its advisory, FWICE cautioned producers and filmmakers against hiring unidentified or unverified individuals without checking their identity, background and professional credentials.
The federation has recommended stronger hiring procedures, including the verification of documents and the maintenance of proper records of people working on film and television projects. These measures are intended to improve accountability and help production houses identify potential security risks before they become a threat.
FWICE has also encouraged producers to give preference to skilled, experienced and verified professionals associated with its affiliated associations. According to the federation, its network of associations maintains membership records and scrutinises applicants’ documents and credentials.
Such records can help establish the professional identity of people working in the industry. However, FWICE has clarified that membership verification should not replace independent background checks or other security procedures required by individual productions.
The federation’s recommendations place responsibility on production houses to assess their own security requirements and introduce appropriate precautions. These could include controlling access to restricted areas, checking the identities of visitors and ensuring that only authorised personnel enter shooting locations.
The advisory also underlines the importance of coordination between production teams and security personnel. By maintaining clear records and reporting unusual activity, production houses may be better equipped to respond to potential risks.
Tiger Shroff firing incident raises safety concerns
The advisory follows a firing incident outside a football ground in Mumbai’s Juhu area on October 18. Tiger Shroff was reportedly at the venue for a football session when gunshots were fired.
The incident prompted a police investigation, with investigators examining suspected links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, according to reports. The investigation has brought renewed attention to the security challenges faced by film personalities and the need for precautions at locations they visit for professional and personal activities.
The incident has also highlighted the potential risks associated with public-facing figures whose movements and appearances may attract attention. Although the circumstances of individual attacks can differ, the federation’s advisory calls for production houses to remain vigilant and avoid overlooking basic security procedures.
FWICE has urged the film industry to treat the incident as a reminder that safety planning should be an essential part of production management. Security arrangements, it said, should be assessed according to the location, the people involved and any specific risks identified by the relevant authorities.
The investigation into the Juhu firing remains distinct from the federation’s industry-wide recommendations. The advisory focuses on preventive steps that producers can take to reduce risks at workplaces across the entertainment sector.
Earlier incidents involving Rohit Shetty and Salman Khan
The latest incident comes against the backdrop of other security concerns involving prominent members of the film industry.
In February, gunshots were fired outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu, Mumbai. The incident prompted security concerns surrounding the director and the wider film fraternity.
Salman Khan has also faced repeated threats. In April 2024, gunshots were fired outside his residence in Mumbai’s Bandra area, leading to a police investigation and heightened attention to the actor’s security.
These incidents have contributed to concerns about the safety of actors, filmmakers and other industry professionals. They have also prompted questions about the precautions required to protect people working in film production, particularly when shooting schedules involve outdoor locations, large teams or public access.
The incidents are separate cases, and their circumstances and investigations may differ. However, they have added urgency to calls for better security planning and coordination within the entertainment industry.
FWICE’s latest advisory seeks to address risks at the workplace level by encouraging producers to establish clear procedures for hiring, access control and threat reporting.
Security must cover the entire production workforce
FWICE has emphasised that film set security should not be limited to actors or other prominent personalities. A shooting location typically brings together people from multiple departments, including camera and lighting teams, technicians, production staff, artists, support workers and contractors.
The federation has therefore called for measures that protect every individual present at a production site. This approach recognises that security risks can affect the wider workforce, regardless of a person’s role or public profile.
Production houses have been urged to assess the security arrangements at studios and outdoor locations and ensure that workers can carry out their duties in a safe environment. Proper identification procedures, reliable crew records and controlled access can form part of this broader approach.
The federation has also called for cooperation among producers, filmmakers, affiliated associations and security agencies. Sharing relevant information and reporting suspicious activity promptly can help the concerned authorities assess threats and take appropriate action.
FWICE’s recommendations place particular emphasis on prevention. Rather than relying only on action after an incident occurs, production houses are being encouraged to introduce safeguards as part of their routine operations.
FWICE stresses prompt reporting of threats
Alongside verification and access control, the federation has called on industry stakeholders to report potential threats and suspicious activity to the appropriate security agencies and law enforcement authorities without delay.
Prompt reporting can help authorities assess the nature of a concern and determine whether further investigation or protective measures are necessary. Production houses have also been encouraged to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when security risks arise.
The advisory makes clear that affiliation with an industry association does not remove the responsibility of producers to conduct their own checks. Membership records can support verification, but they cannot guarantee that every potential security risk has been identified.
Producers must therefore consider the specific requirements of each project and take additional precautions wherever necessary. The arrangements may vary depending on the shooting location, the number of people involved and any threats identified by the authorities.
Film industry urged to prioritise safety
FWICE has described the protection of the film and television industry’s workforce as a collective responsibility. Its advisory calls for producers, filmmakers and affiliated associations to work together to implement stronger security procedures.
The federation has stressed that there should be no compromise when it comes to protecting human life. It has urged industry stakeholders to prioritise vigilance, responsible hiring and verification at film sets, studios and other production locations.
The recommendations follow the firing incident involving Tiger Shroff and come amid wider concerns about threats against film personalities. While investigations into individual incidents remain with law enforcement agencies, FWICE’s advisory seeks to strengthen preventive measures across the industry.
The effectiveness of these precautions will depend on how consistently production houses implement them and coordinate with security agencies. For now, the federation has made clear that safer working conditions require attention to both the people hired for productions and the security arrangements maintained at every shooting location.