Recently,
a
report
in
a
leading
tabloid
stated
that
45
junior
artistes
on
the
sets
of
Akshay
Kumar's
upcoming
film
Ram
Setu
have
tested
positive
for
COVID-19
after
the
superstar
made
it
mandatory
for
everyone
tested
before
their
entry
into
the
sets.
However,
the
makers
of
the
film
have
a
different
story
to
tell.
Vikram
Malhotra,
Abundantia
Entertainment,
who
is
co-producing
Ram
Setu
denied
this
report
while
speaking
with
Hindustan
Times
and
called
iy
an
"absolutely
inaccurate
and
a
total
misrepresentation
of
facts."
The
producer
told
the
tabloid
that
advance
and
frequent
COVID-19
tests
are
carried
out
for
all
crew
members
as
a
part
of
the
Standard
Operating
Procedures
(SOPs)
laid
down
for
everyone's
safety.
Malhotra
was
quoted
as
saying
by
HT,
"In
line
with
the
same,
and
ahead
of
the
shoot
to
be
held
on
April
5
in
Madh
Island,
around
190
people
were
tested
on
3rd
at
an
off-location
testing
camp
in
Versova,
Mumbai
from
which
a
certain
number
were
to
be
selected
for
the
shoot.
Out
of
these
190-odd
people,
25
people
tested
positive
and
were,
therefore,
removed
from
those
who
qualified
to
be
part
of
the
unit
for
shoot
the
next
day."
Clarifying
that
none
of
those
individuals
were
ever
a
part
of
the
unit
or
present
on
the
film's
set,
he
continued,
"The
expenses
for
this
off-location
testing
and
all
such
tests
is
borne
entirely
by
the
film's
production
and
is
monitored
by
the
production
team."
The
producer
further
revealed
that
Akshay
Kumar's
COVID-19
diagnosis
had
nothing
to
do
with
these
tests
or
those
45
people
being
diagnosed
positive.
"The
shoot
lined
up
for
April
5
had
to
be
suspended.
There
is
absolutely
no
connection
or
correlation
between
the
two
developments
as
the
very
shoot
that
is
being
quoted
in
the
false
story
never
took
place!," Malhotra
was
quoted
as
saying.
Meanwhile,
Akshay
Kumar
had
earlier
taken
to
social
media
to
inform
fans
that
he
has
got
himself
admitted
to
a
hospital
as
a
'precautionary
measure'
after
testing
COVID-19
positive.
His
tweet
read,
"Thank
you
everyone
for
all
your
warm
wishes
and
prayers,
they
seem
to
be
working.
I
am
doing
fine
,
but
as
a
precautionary
measure
under
medical
advice,
I
have
been
hospitalised.
I
hope
to
be
back
soon."
Speaking
about
Ram
Setu,
the
Akshay
Kumar
film
also
stars
Jacqueline
Fernandez
and
Nushrat
Bharucha
in
prominent
roles.
Post
Akshay's
COVID-19
diagnosis,
both
the
leading
ladies
followed
the
safety
protocols
and
got
themselves
tested
for
the
virus.
Their
results
came
negative.