November 8, 2024: The tragedy that struck the set of the iconic television series The Sword of Tipu Sultan still resonates as one of the darkest moments in Indian television history. On February 8, 1989, a devastating fire broke out at Premier Studios in Mysore, where the series was being filmed. Actor and director Sanjay Khan, who played Tipu Sultan in the series, suffered severe injuries, undergoing 73 surgeries and enduring months of recovery.
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Actor-writer Ananth Mahadevan, who portrayed Pandit Purnaiya in the series, recently recounted the harrowing incident in a conversation with Siddharth Kannan. Reflecting on the eerie sequence of events that almost prevented him from reaching the studio, Mahadevan shared, “It felt like there were ominous signs. My taxi broke down multiple times on the way, and I had this strange feeling of being warned not to go.”
When he finally arrived, Sanjay Khan was directing a Diwali scene in a set filled with hay, low ceilings, and flammable materials. Mahadevan recalls voicing his concerns, suggesting they could have filmed the scene in Mumbai. Just hours later, while Mahadevan was back at his hotel, he received news of the fire. “There has been a big fire on the set,” someone told him. He rushed back to find a horrifying scene — bodies piled up, with fire engines battling the flames.
“It was the most traumatic night of my life,” Mahadevan recounted. “People didn’t know if we were alive or dead. We had to inform our families that we had survived.” The tragedy claimed the lives of 52 crew members and left Sanjay Khan fighting for his life, with over 65% of his body covered in third-degree burns.
Mahadevan spoke of the immense courage Sanjay Khan displayed, rising from the tragedy like a phoenix. After months of recovery, Sanjay returned to complete the series, pushing through both physical and mental trauma. “He was burnt from top to bottom, including his face, yet he came back to finish what he started. It was one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen,” Mahadevan stated.
This incident remains a somber reminder of the importance of safety on film sets and a testament to the resilience of Sanjay Khan and everyone involved in bringing The Sword of Tipu Sultan to life.
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