Following a Bollywood art director’s death by suicide, members of the Indian Film and TV Producers’ Council (IFTPC) met recently, said a report in this paper, to discuss actionable measures against harassment. A member present at the meeting said that the death has exposed the hafta culture.

On July 3 before his death, the Pune-based art director had made a video, accusing some people of harassment and extortion. It is said that art directors have been threatened on occasion that shoots would be disrupted if some amount is not paid. There is also a statement in the report about people dropping in on the sets in the name of some association or political party saying shoots have to be stopped till a certain amount is paid.