Mumbai: A major fire broke out on the sets of a dance show at the iconic R.K. Studio in Chembur on Saturday. The blaze was brought under control after four hours, and caused large-scale damage to the studio established by legendary actor Raj Kapoor in 1948.
Actor Rishi Kapoor, Raj Kapoor’s son, tweeted, “Sad A major fire broke out at RK Studios. We have lost the iconic Stage 1. Thankfully no casualties or injuries. All your concern appreciated.” In another tweet, he said, “A studio can be built again but the loss of irreplaceable memorabilia and costumes of all RK Films is tragic for all. Fire took it away.”
According to the fire brigade, the fire was reported to the control room around 2.22 p.m., and fire fighter teams reached the spot at 2.37 p.m. By 3.04 p.m., the blaze was categorised as a Level II fire, fire brigade officers said, adding six fire engines and five tankers were pressed into service. Officials at RK Studios said the fire originated on the sets of Super Dancer Season Two , a dance contest that airs on Sony TV. The set was empty at the time.
Chief Fire Officer P.S. Rahangdale said, “Electrical installations, shooting equipment, clothes, imitation jewellery, furniture, decoration equipment and an air conditioning duct were damaged in the fire. While our operation was underway, the roof of the sets collapsed, creating a sound like a blast.”
The fire was finally doused by 6.16 p.m., and the operation was officially called off at 7.25 p.m. Fire brigade and civic officers confirmed there were no casualties. “The sets of Super Dancer are completely destroyed and there is some additional damage as well. We will be calling in surveyors to gauge the extent of the damage and should have a clearer picture by Monday,” an RK Studios official said.
Channel sources added, “The show is shot at R K Studio, but there was no shoot planned for today as the channel had already shot a couple of episodes. The next shoot is planned for the first week of October. We hope that we will be able do the needful by then and get the set ready. The show to be aired on Sony Entertainment Television will go on the floor by September 30,”
Meanwhile, the city and traffic police deployed personnel around the studio for crowd control. Thick and dark smoke enveloped the entire area as flames swept through the basement of the sprawling studio, where Raj Kapoor, his siblings and children made a number of films over the decades. The area witnessed traffic snarls as fire tenders, water tankers and several ambulances were rushed to the site.
Flames and dense smoke were seen emanating from the studio for several hours. “We were able to divert vehicular movement successfully and there were no major traffic problems,” said Joint CP (Traffic) Amitesh Kumar. Fire brigade officers are currently investigating the reason behind the fire.
The films made under the RK banner include Aag , Barsaat , Awaara , Shri 420 , Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai , Mera Naam Joker , Bobby , Satyam Shivam Sundaram .
The last film made under the banner was Aa Ab Laut Chalen by Rishi Kapoor in 1999. When Raj Kapoor died in 1988, his elder son Randhir took over the studio. Later, his younger brother Rajiv directed Prem Granth . — With PTI inputs
