An Indian TV show had 62 people die on the set in an accident, with the hero also batting death and undergoing 72 surgeries.
With advancement in safety procedures and guidelines on sets, accidents and fatalities have become rarer in modern times. Yet, every now and then, a lapse or a freak accident leads to a tragedy during a film or TV show shoot, such as the death of a cinematographer on the set of Hollywood film Rust a couple of years ago. But even as the odd death has occurred on several film sets, it is an India TV show that holds the dubious distinction of being the deadliest and most dangerous production ever.
The Indian TV show that saw 62 deaths on set
The 1990 historical drama The Sword of Tipu Sultan was one of the most expensive Indian TV shows made at the time. The Hindi-Urdu show was based on the life and rule of the medieval ruler of Mysore. Directed by Sanjay Khan and his brother Akbar Khan, the show starred Sanjay in the lead role, along with a strong support cast including Shahbaz Khan, Deepika Chikhalia, Ananth Mahadevan, Mukesh Rishi, Kanwaljeet Singh, Tom Alter, Kunika, Shriram Lagoo, and Satyen Kappu.
But sadly, the show is most remembered for a fire accident that took place on set at Premier Studios in Mysore on February 8, 1989. With unavailability of firefighting equipment and loose wiring, the fire spread quickly, and the huge lights being used on set further contributed to its spread. In the end, 62 crew and cast members lost their lives in the massive fire and production was stopped for a long time.
Sanjay Khan’s life threatening injuries
The lead actor Sanjay Khan also faced a lot of burns and injuries. The actor-director had to spend 13 months in hospital, during which time his brother Akbar took over the direction of the show. The actor underwent a total of 72 surgeries over the next year. "We never imagined that such a disaster could happen. We were horrified. I was outside the studio with my writers when I heard the commotion and went to check [on it]. There was fire everywhere. I shouted, ‘Open the barn doors’. But something hit me on the head. The rest is history,” he later told Hindustan Times.
In a later interview, Sanjay said that he was given a 10% chance to survive. It was only after Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi sent doctors from Delhi that Sanjay could improve. While the doctors advised Sanjay to quit acting after recovery, he chose to return to the show, both starring in and directing it. The families of the victims of the tragedy were given ex-gratia amount of Rs 5000 as compensation.
The Sword of Tipu Sultan’s legacy
The delayed production meant that the show’s budget ballooned. But Akbar and Sanjay were still able to finish the shoot. The show eventually aired in February 1990 and continued for 60 episodes up till April 1991. It was praised for its grand scale as well as the performances of the principal cast. Its popularity was such that the show was dubbed in Telugu, Bengali, and Tamil as well. In the mid-90s, reruns were telecast in the UK, Iran, Indonesia, and Mauritius as well.
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 "A still from The Sword of Tipu Sultan")
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