Pierced to death

Asst director killed as he loses control of a jeep on a bridge and iron rod runs through him, while shooting for Anurag Kashyap film

In a grim reminder of what happened to Nadia Khan, an assistant of director Kaizad Gustad who was killed in a freak accident while shooting for a film, one of Anurag Kashyap's assistants has met with a similar fate on the sets of Gangs of Wasseypur.

Suhail Shah, Kashyap's AD, was killed early yesterday morning when the jeep he was driving for a scene, hit the side of Pantul Bridge in Chunar village of Mirzapur, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.


Suhail Shah, who was driving the jeep lost control of the vehicle
and ran into the iron railing on the bridge. He suffered fatal
injuries to his head and was declared dead on arrival at the
Varanasi Heritage Hospital. Suhail was extremely close to
director Anuragu00a0Kashyapu00a0and had worked with the Dev D director
on several of his earlier projects.


The metal sheets placed on the wooden bridge were slippery, due to dew drops early in the morning, said an eye witness. He added, "While the driver Ghulam was sitting next to him, Suhail was driving the jeep."

Said another source, "Suhail was driving on a makeshift bridge specially erected for the shoot across a waterfront.
u00a0
It was not built too high. He suddenly saw two people in his path and swerved the vehicle to the side. An iron rod hanging on the side of the bridge pierced him near his ear."

The two were rushed to Varanasi Heritage Hospital, where Shah succumbed to his injuries, while Ghulam is recuperating from minor head and back injuries.

The crew had been shooting in the area for a fortnight. The shoot has now been stalled.

I P Singh, station officer of Chunar police station, said, "Suhail was riding the jeep very fast and hence he lost control. We have taken the report, but no case has been registered as the man who was driving has died."

u00a0Singh added, "There has been no complaint about the shooting, but it is a risky place to shoot. Only one vehicle can travel on the bridge at a time."

Suhail (26) was extremely close to Anurag and had worked with the Dev D director on several of his earlier projects.

Added the source, "Anurag has been numbed by the tragedy and has locked himself in a room refusing to speak to anyone. He just cannot fathom the sudden loss of Suhail."

Gangs of Wasseypur, based on the coal mine mafia, includes Manoj Bajpai and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the cast.
Bajpai said, "It is better you speak about the mishap with Anurag. I was not present at the shoot at the time."

Produced by Kashyap along with Studio 18, it is being touted as Anurag's most ambitious project and his cinematic version of Mario Puzo's The Godfather.

Nadia Khan-Kaizad Gustad case

Kaizad Gustad's assistant, British national Nadia Khan, 26, had died on the railway tracks near Mahalaxmi station in May 25, 2004, during his film's shoot.

She was speaking on her mobile phone when she was hit by a suburban train. She had travelled to Mumbai to get experience in filmmaking and was working as an assistant director on the set.

Initially, Kaizad had stated that she had died as a result of a road, rather than a train accident. After a long legal battle, the director was sentenced to jail.