MUMBAI: Producer Sikander A Khan and writer-director Shakeel S Saifee’s upcoming film Anjuna Beach based on slain British teenager Scarlet Eden Keeling has got into trouble for illegally shooting in the tourist state.

The Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), the nodal agency to formulate entertainment policy in the state, said that the film was shot on Anjuna beach for 10 days without requisite permission. Accordingly, the ESG had asked the producers of the film to give a declaration that the film was not detrimental to the image of Goa.

ESG Chief Executive Officer Manoj Srivastava has revealed that neither the producer nor anyone representing the filmmaker returned with the declaration.

 
Worrying that such incidents would be trend setting, ESG had proposed the state Law Department to make shooting without permission in the state a cognizable offence. “A proposal to punish an offender with simple imprisonment is still pending with the government," Srivastava averred.

On the other hand, Fiona Mackeown, mother of Keeling, has wanted to watch the film before its release while her lawyer has warned of legal action against the filmmakers if there are any distortion of facts.