AICWA demands impartial investigation into Kantara junior artist MF Kapil’s demise: ‘Producers often downplay the severity’

In Pic: Kantara poster

The news of junior artist MF Kapil's demise on the sets of Rishab Shetty's Kantara: Chapter 1, allegedly through drowning while swimming, came yesterday. Now, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has demanded an impartial investigation into the death of Kantara: Chapter 1 junior artist MF Kapil. AICWA has also demanded an FIR against Rishab Shetty and the owners of the production house.

AICWA wanted an impartial investigation

"The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) expresses deep sorrow over the tragic demise of junior artist MF Kapil, aged 33, a resident of Moosarithara, Vaikom, Kerala, who lost his life on May 6, 2025, around 3:45 PM near the Souparnika River, close to Kollur, Karnataka, during the shooting of the film 'Kantara 2 (Chapter-1)," said AICWA, as quoted in the media release.

AICWA in their press release further stated, "AICWA is gravely concerned that incidents of fatalities on film sets, such as the deaths of technicians during the shooting of Tamil films Indian 2 and Sardar 2, and the recent accident involving 20 junior artists traveling by bus last November, are consistently misrepresented. Producers and production houses often downplay the severity of such incidents, providing misleading information."

"In addition, AICWA appeals to the producers of Kantara 2 to provide financial compensation of INR 1 crore to the bereaved family of MF Kapil, acknowledging the immense loss they have suffered," concluded AICWA.

This is not the first accident on Kantara's set. Earlier, news came out that a bus carrying junior artists met with an accident. After this, a source close to the production confirmed, "A minor accident occurred 20 kilometers away from the shooting location, involving a local bus carrying some members of the Kantara team. However, no injuries were reported."

Kantara: Chapter 1 release date

It was recently announced that the makers revealed the release date of the prequel to the award-winning 2022 film Kantara: A Legend. Kantara: Chapter 1, a prequel to the National Award-winning Kannada film, is set to arrive in cinemas on October 2, 2025.