After ‘Toxic’ and ‘Kantara’ controversies, Karnataka tightens rules for filming in forests
Karnataka Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre announced that government approval is now mandatory for visual content production in the state’s forested regions.
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The Karnataka government is also planning a number of other measures to prevent such incidents like illegal felling of trees. (Photo: X/ @eshwar_khandre)The Karnataka government Friday decided to impose stringent regulations on filming activities in forest areas following recent controversies involving the Kannada films Toxic, starring KGF star Yash, and Kantara: Chapter 1, featuring Rishab Shetty.
Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre announced that government approval is now mandatory for visual content production in the state’s forested regions. “The forest department has been granting permissions at the local level, but we have observed lapses in monitoring and compliance. To prevent further damage and safeguard our natural resources, filming approvals will now require clearance from higher authorities,” he said.
The Toxic film crew was accused of illegally cutting down trees in Bengaluru’s Peenya Plantation area. The Kantara team allegedly used explosives and exceeded permitted boundaries in the Yeslur forest range of Hassan district.
The Karnataka government is also planning a number of other measures to prevent such incidents — prohibition of construction, deforestation or modification of forest landscapes without approval; action against production houses for violations; deployment of monitoring teams to ensure compliance during shoots; and limiting filming to non-sensitive forest zones.
“The forest department will ensure that no unauthorized filming takes place, and any violation will invite legal action. We cannot afford to compromise our environment for commercial interests,” Khandre said.
The controversy surrounding Toxic arose in October 2024 when it was discovered that the production team had cleared trees on leased land, reportedly without proper environmental clearance. The land, previously owned by Hindustan Machine Tools and later acquired by Canara Bank, was leased to the filmmakers for the shoot. The state government later found discrepancies in official records, with the land’s forest designation being challenged without Cabinet approval. In response, the government issued a show-cause notice to officials involved and initiated an inquiry into the matter.
On January 20, the makers of Kantara: Chapter 1, the prequel to the hit Kantara, faced allegations of damaging the fragile ecosystem at Gavi Betta in Sakleshpur through the use of explosives. The Hassan Deputy Conservator of Forests had granted conditional permission for the shoot, but reports of violations led the minister to order an immediate site inspection.
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