Two days after the Maharashtra government receded into a partial shutdown to curb the spread of Coronavirus, film bodies in India — including Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE), Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA), Western India Film Producers' Association (WIFPA) and Indian Film & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) — decided yesterday to stop the shoot of films and television shows from March 19. The shutdown will be exercised till March 31. Ashoke Pandit, president, IFTDA, says the move was necessary as there are rising health concerns across the country. "We have given a three-day grace period so that people have time to pack up and rework their schedules. The shutdown will begin from Thursday midnight. It not only applies to shoots in India, but also to those currently filming their projects abroad."

The latest decision may affect a spate of films that are currently on floors, including Mumbai Saga, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 and Haseen Dillruba.