Hombale Films: Kantara Chapter 1 junior artiste’s death outside of scope of film-related activity

Kantara Chapter 1 actor and director Rishab Shetty, and by extension, production banner Hombale Films, have nothing to do with the tragic death of a junior artist who was working on the film. Or so says the statement that Hombale Films has issued, ‘clarifying’ that MF Kapil’s untimely passing did not occur on the set of the under-production prequel of Kantara.

Kapil's death has no connection to shoot of Kantara

Initial reports had stated that Kapil, went swimming in the Souparnika River near Kollur and got swept away in the strong undercurrents, following which shooting was apparently halted. Kapil’s mortal remains were recovered later that day (May 6). However, according to the official note from Hombale Films, “no filming was scheduled on that day, and the unfortunate event would have occurred during his personal engagement outside the scope of any film-related activity”.

Incidentally, since the start of the film’s shoot, Kantara Chapter 1 has often been in the news for issues on set or off it. From a police complaint about the use of explosives and fire in forest areas. The production house had been fined for ‘dumping’ film shoot materials in forest zones way before permissions to shoot were obtained. There was also a road accident in which several junior artistes sustained injuries as well as reports that junior artiste payments were delayed, among others.

Accidents on sets are not uncommon in the Kannada film industry. Only months ago, it was reported that a light boy on the set of director Yogaraj Bhat’s last film, Manada Kadalu, died after falling from a 30-feet ladder. An FIR was registered against Yogaraj for failing to provide a safe work environment. Two junior artistes died on the set of Duniya Vijay’s Maasthi Gudi , when they jumped from a helicopter into a reservoir. The duo drowned as the rescue boat failed to start.

In 1997’s Simhada Mar i, a stunt sequence required 10 stuntmen to jump from a 20 ft height, resulting in fractures for all 10. The film was also in the news when a still photographer got caught in the Rajasthan desert sand and died. 1994’s Lock Up Death had an action block with 2 stunt men riding their bikes on to a double decker bus. The stunt went wrong, resulting in injuries for both. Saikumar’s Ticket Tickets also has a tragedy attached to it. Stuntman Bomb Ravi lost his life during the shooting when the explosives expert’s calculations went wrong and a bomb exploded, killing him on the spot.