FEFSI cancels shoots to mourn Ravi Shankar Prasad's death

The Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) Sunday said it has cancelled film shootings scheduled for July 15 in the state to mourn the death of producer-entrepreneur Ravi Shankar Prasad. He was 55.

Prasad, who went missing since July 8, was mysteriously found dead Saturday by Yanam police in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.

"We would have cancelled shooting if today (Sunday) was a working day. Usually, the industry doesn't work on second Sundays of every month and therefore, we have decided to call off shooting on Monday (July 15) in the state to pay our respect to late visionary producer Ravi Shankar Prasad," a statement from FEFSI said.

Chairman of Regency Group of hotels, Prasad was staying at Anand Regency Hotel in Yanam, Kakinada, since July 7. Next day he left the hotel early in the morning to take a walk and never returned. He was found dead Saturday.

Survived by his wife and two daughters, Prasad was also the managing director of Gemini Film Circuit, a popular distribution and production company known for producing several successful Telugu and Tamil films like "Shankar Dada MBBS" and "Nanban".

Prasad's last rites were performed here Sunday.