FWICE asks for crew screening after Tiger Shroff firing

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has asked film and television producers to tighten security after gunshots were fired outside a Juhu football ground where Tiger Shroff was reportedly present on October 18. Police are investigating, with attention on suspected links to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

What FWICE is asking producers to do

The advisory covers the whole production chain. FWICE wants producers to check who is actually walking onto a set, not just who is standing in front of the camera.

• Verify a worker’s identity and professional background before hiring
• Keep accurate, accessible records of crew members
• Strengthen access control at studios and outdoor shoots
• Report suspicious activity or possible threats to law enforcement quickly

FWICE has told production houses to treat personnel checks as an essential safety procedure rather than a routine administrative formality.

A pattern of threats, not a one-off

The advisory lands after a string of security scares. Gunshots were reported outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence in February, and Salman Khan has faced repeated threats, including a firing outside his Bandra home in April 2024. Read together, these incidents help explain why FWICE wants safeguards that protect more than the biggest names.

FWICE has also made a practical distinction: membership of an affiliated association is useful because those bodies keep records and examine documents, but it cannot replace an independent background check. Producers may still need to do extra verification where a situation calls for it.

Why this matters for every set

The advisory says security planning should extend to every person at a production location. Actors and high-profile personalities need protection, but technicians, artists, directors, producers and workers face risks too. FWICE has asked producers, filmmakers and industry associations to cooperate so precautions are applied consistently.

Rather than adding one more layer of paperwork, the federation is asking the industry to change its default: hire verified people, control who can enter a set, and flag danger early.

Separately, filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma sparked online discussion by comparing the alleged shooters with the stylised criminals in gangster films, questioning whether they would even be cast as minor members of a fictional villain’s gang.

Source: The Times of India