When Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha reached Purulia in West Bengal to shoot for their upcoming film Lootera a few days ago, they had no idea that a completely different task, besides acting, was in store for them. The two actors eventually ended up playing peacemakers. The trouble began

when the unit of Vikramaditya Motwane’s film first reached the location. On day one, about 1.5 kms away from the town, a huge crowd had assembled. While the crew thought that the news of the shoot had caused the initial curiosity and chaos, they noticed that the group began turning up almost everyday.

Apparently the locals had no idea of what the shoot was about — some even believed that a foreign news crew was at work — which was why they would regularly visit the spot in droves. Since part of the schedule involved filming in an open field, the crew began finding it hard to maintain discipline during the shots as the crowd became openly disruptive. “People were pouring in from all corners. We had crew members from all departments working hard to lock vehicles, request motorcyclists and fans to stay away or keep quiet. But someone or the other would keep making noise,” says a unit member.

Finally, when the crew couldn’t control the matter, Ranveer and Sonakshi stepped in. The duo addressed the crowds themselves. Confirms co-producer Vikas Bahl, “For the initial part of the schedule, it was a little difficult. It was only after Ranveer and Sonakshi took charge and explained the situation to the crowd that they began cooperating.”