NEW DELHI/UDUPI, 8 MAY 

A junior artiste working on upcoming Kannada film 'Kantara: Chapter 1' drowned in Souparnika river in Udupi district, prompting a temporary halt in the shooting, police said on Thursday.

The artiste, MF Kapil was said to have drowned in the Souparnika River near Kollur in Udupi district after entering the water for a swim during a lunch break on Wednesday. Local police confirmed that a case of unnatural death has been registered, and investigations are ongoing after a search operation recovered his body the same evening.

The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has demanded a probe into the death of MF Kapi. However, the film's production team has refuted claims that the incident occurred on set, asserting it took place during Kapil’s personal outing.

In an official statement, AICWA expressed deep concern over the incident, urging the Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, to initiate an impartial investigation. They also called for an FIR against lead actor Rishab Shetty and the production house, along with a demand for Rs 1 crore compensation for Kapil’s family.

Responding to the allegations, Adarsh JA, executive producer of ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’, extended condolences and clarified that there was no filming scheduled on the day of the incident. The film is set to release on 2 October.