Bollywood hit by London riots

As London entered the third day of rioting on Tuesday, there’s much trepidation in Bollywood and the society circuit too, considering many of them own properties and even homes there.

But the cause of concern is not only for themselves, but also fellow actors and filmmakers who’ve been shooting there.

Actors Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor have been inundated with calls from back home asking for their well-being and to set the record straight sources close to the stars say that the two are shooting at a safe distance from London.

“We are shooting on the outskirts here and it’s more than an hour’s drive from London. But yes, there’s concern among unit members,” said the insider.

Actors Hrithik Roshan, Anushka Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor too are currently in London where they had flown to attend an event.

Actors Abhishek Bachchan and wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan too are in London, as is actor Riteish Deshmukh. Musician AR Rahman apparently is there to release his first composition with pop icon Mick Jagger.

Strangely enough though, known to be regulars on Twitter, neither PC, nor Riteish or Abhishek have tweeted anything about it. Actor Sonam Kapoor, who’s dad Anil Kapoor was recently in London for a month long shoot, however tweeted:

“We pray for the protection of lives and properties in London. Love and Peace. Let it Prevail.”

Filmmaker Sajid Khan who wrapped up the shoot of Housefull 2 in London recently agrees that it’s disturbing for tourists as much as it is for the locals there.

But whether it will affect Bollywood’s plans to shoot there he says that they’re unlikely to change unless practically not possible.

“It could have happened anywhere. So, I don’t think the shoots will be cancelled unless the shooting locales are among the areas where the rioting is on.”
a_shetye@dnaindia.net