Shooting of Bhansali's Ram Leela disrupted over workers’ non-payment

Noted filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ambitious filmRam Leelahad encountered a problem Sunday evening when its shooting was disrupted briefly by the members of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). The FWICE activists landed up on the set of the Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone starrer film on complaints of non-payment of workers' dues. "Payment has been pending for long. I had to go to the set as many workers had been complaining about it. They don't file complaints fearing they would lose their jobs. Even their conveyance reimbursement was pending for some time," Prem Singh Thakur from FWICE's vigilance department said.

He added, "I switched off the lights to get the producers' attention. Mr Bhansali asked me what the problem was. I introduced myself and told him about the issue. He immediately called his production assistant and asked him to clear the dues." Responding to the news, Bhansali said, "There is no payment issue. The person who told you this is lying and has vested interests. You can come and check for yourself." Contrary to Bhansali’s claim, his office has given in writing to FWICE that all pending payments would be cleared in a week.