Covid-19 halts Bollywood filming, puts spotlight on casual workers

More than 500,000 Bollywood workers on daily wages now face an uncertain future with the country's prolific film and television industry shuttered from last Thursday to next Tuesday. – AFP

Thousands of casual workers who build sets for India's Bollywood film industry, or fight and dance behind established stars, have been left jobless after all shoots were suspended in a bid to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

There are more than 500,000 Bollywood workers on daily wages, according to employee unions, and most now face an uncertain future with the country's prolific film and television industry shuttered from last Thursday to next Tuesday.