The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has approached Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, requesting an urgent meeting to address growing security concerns within the entertainment industry. The appeal follows a series of incidents in which well-known figures from film, television, and digital media have reportedly received threats, leading to widespread unease across the sector.
In its letter, FWICE highlighted that repeated threats and security scares have not only distressed the individuals directly targeted but have also created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty throughout the industry. The organisation warned that such incidents raise serious questions about the adequacy of existing safety arrangements for those working in this crucial field.
Emphasising the broader impact, FWICE noted that the entertainment industry relies on the collective efforts of thousands of workers, including artists, technicians, and daily wage earners. Any threat to prominent personalities, it said, inevitably disrupts production activities, affecting shooting schedules, planning, and overall morale, thereby putting numerous livelihoods at risk.
The federation urged the state government to take strong and visible measures to restore confidence, particularly given Maharashtra’s status — and Mumbai’s role — as the centre of India’s film and television industry. It called for enhanced preventive security mechanisms, closer coordination with law enforcement agencies, and formal recognition of the issue by the Chief Minister’s office.
Expressing confidence in Fadnavis’s leadership, FWICE requested an appointment at the earliest opportunity to present its concerns in detail and seek the government’s guidance and intervention in ensuring the safety of the media and entertainment community.
The letter comes in the wake of recent security incidents involving celebrities. These include a firing outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence on February 1, where unidentified attackers reportedly fired multiple rounds, prompting alarm within the industry. Authorities later detained five individuals and invoked MCOCA provisions due to the seriousness of the case.
In another reported episode, actor Ranveer Singh allegedly received a threatening WhatsApp voice message demanding a large sum of money. Media reports have linked both incidents to claims by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, intensifying concerns about the safety of industry members.
