Leopard Enters TV Show Set In Mumbai's Film City, AICWA Demands 'Immediate Intervention' By Maharashtra Gov To Ensure Safety

Mumbai: In a shocking yet not isolated incident, a leopard entered the set of Star Plus show Pocket Mein Aasman on March 5 at 8 PM. Fortunately, no tragedy was reported in the incident, but it has raised concerns on the security of actors, technicians, junior artists and staff working on the film sets. Big cats wandering around Mumbai's film city is not new, which prompted the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) to write an open letter to the Maharashtra government to demand steps be taken against the security lapses. 

AICWA writes to the government after leopard enters Film City 

A leopard was seen roaming inside the set of the TV serial Pocket Mein Aasman in Mumbai's film city on March 5, 2025, at 8 pm. CCTV footage captures the wild cat going inside that site. While there was no one on the scene a the time, the incident raised security concerns.  AICWA raised this issue in front of the Maharashtra government and demanded that some steps be taken to stop the leopards from entering Film City where 100 to 200 shootings take place every day. 

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Taking to their official X (formerly Twitter) account on March 9, the body mentioned, “The persistent threat of leopard attacks in Mumbai’s Filmcity has once again put the lives of cine workers, technicians, junior artists, and actors at grave risk. On 5th March 2025, at 8 PM, a leopard was seen roaming inside the set of the TV serial Pocket Mein Aasman, an alarming incident that highlights the ongoing danger in Filmcity. This is not an isolated event—leopards have been frequently spotted wandering across Filmcity, even entering shooting sets in broad daylight, attacking people, and creating an unsafe work environment.”

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The press release stressed that the AICWA has repeatedly informed the government about the looming threats but have not got any respite. The letter read, “The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has repeatedly raised this issue with the Maharashtra government, taking it all the way to the State Assembly (Vidhansabha). Despite the matter being acknowledged at the highest level, the government has failed to take any concrete action to prevent these recurring leopard attacks.”

AICWA demands urgent intervention from Maharashtra Government

In the same letter, the film body wrote, “Filmcity hosts around 100 to 200 shooting sets daily, where thousands of workers, technicians, junior artists, and actors earn their livelihood. These individuals, who contribute significantly to India’s entertainment industry and economy, are forced to risk their lives every day due to the government’s negligence. The threat is real, and the consequences could be fatal.” They added, "Despite multiple appeals, the Maharashtra government has not introduced any concrete plan to ensure the safety of these workers. If the government cannot provide adequate security in a forest-surrounded Filmcity, then it must build a new, safer Filmcity in Mumbai or its outskirts. The government has a moral and legal obligation to protect the lives of these workers, who contribute to the economy and pay taxes just like any other citizen."

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In their letter, the AICWA argued that the Film industry generates an annual revenue of over ₹2 Lakh Crore, and yet the safety of the people working in it is not guaranteed. The body demanded an immediate action in the issue and listed 4 action points from the government which are: 
1. A robust wildlife management plan to prevent leopards from entering Filmcity.

2. Deployment of trained forest officials and security teams to protect workers on set.

3 .Installation of protective barriers and advanced surveillance to monitor leopard movements.

4. Creation of a new, secure Filmcity in Mumbai or nearby areas to ensure a safe working environment.

The AICWA asserted that they will ‘stand firm’ until all the ‘non-negotiable’ demands are met. The Maharashtra government is yet to reply in the matter.