Bhaskar, a 52-year-old theater operator at Prasadz IMAX in Hyderabad, is no more. He died by suicide most recently, leaving behind a bereaved family.

It's learned that Bhaskar had been paid only half the salary since the lockdown phase began. He killed himself after the management reportedly conveyed to its employees that no salaries will be paid from October if theatres don't reopen.

Reacting to the sad news, Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Gupta tweeted, "This is so sad and so wrong. I feel so bloody helpless. It is because of people like Bhaskar that we survive. RIP brother."

Actor-producer Nikhil Dwivedi tweeted, "Gut-wrenching! All those abusing the movie industry daily note that it's not just about the dazzling MegaStars on screen..It's also thousands of others. The everyday Indian negotiating life and its hardships."

The Indian multiplex industry and the single-screen segment have been incurring losses to the tune of hundreds of crores since mid-March, when theatres were shut down to control the spread of coronavirus.