The great escape - article

Iqbal Khan was shooting a fire scene when the entire studio caught fire, and he had to run for his life

Ram Kamal Mukherjee

Iqbal Khan was shooting for the cover of a television magazine yesterday, when the studio in Oshiwara caught fire. The actor ran out of the studio, thus saving himself from getting seriously burnt. The actor was shooting with fashion photographer Mahendra Soni when the accident occurred.

"We were shooting for the cover of a magazine. I was supposed to run while a fire engulfed me. It was a centrally air-conditioned studio and we had fire extinguishers, in case of an emergency. Yet, we never imagined that the studio would actually catch fire," recalls Soni.

Iqbal was in for a rude shock when he realised that the entire studio turned to soot and he had to wait outside for hours. Adds Soni, "Iqbal is truly a trooper and helped us to extinguish the fire. We couldn't shoot the required shot for the magazine, but we are sure that we'll be able to do it as soon as I get things organised again."

Recalls Iqbal, "I was cautious because I had to stand right in between the two lines of fire which Mahendra Soni had artificially created. It was looking great and I knew it would make an excellent photograph. But the backdrop was made of plastic material and it immediately caught fire. We all saved our lives by simply running out of the studio. I don't think we need to shoot any more, but if Mahendra asks me, we shall do it again." Choose a swimming pool this time round guys as the theme.