Anurag Kashyap's Assistant Director Suhail Shah Dies in a Freak Accident on the Sets

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 Anurag Basu and 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.

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."

Singh 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.

Describing the boy another crewmember adds, "He was a very quiet and professional guy. His body is in the hospital and I think arrangements are being made to take him to Bombay."