Rumours are flying thick and fast about the organised rackets kidnapping children to harvest their organs in Pavagada taluk.

Rumours about child trafficking have triggered fear of strangers among the villagers in the region. In several cases of mistaken identity, villagers have thrashed the strangers believing that they are part of the racket.

The film unit of 'Dandupalya-4', which has camped in the taluk for the shoot, too faced the heat. The artists of the 'Dandupalya' movie, based on the notorious dacoit gang from Dandupalya village in Hosakote taluk, as the roles demand, were wearing makeup of thieves and murderers.

Mistaking the actors for the child trafficking racketeers, the villagers caught hold of them and enquired about their identities.

Villagers relented after the locals, who are part of the film unit convinced them that they are actors and are shooting for the 'Dandupalya-4' movie. The relieved villagers then took selfies with the actors.

Veteran Kannada actor Suman Ranganathan, who is part of the movie, informed this to reporters in a press meet here on Sunday.

The Neer Dose-fame actor warned the film crew not to venture out of the set on their own as they may get thrashed by the villagers, mistaking them for racketeers.

The movie, produced by Venkat, is being filmed at several locations in Palavalli and other parts of Pavagada taluk. The movie will be released in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi languages.

Director K T Nayak, actors Banerjee, Sanjeev Kumar, Rangayana Vittal, Somu, Jeev Saimon, Sneha, Bachchan, cameraman Manu Girish, Amarnath and others were present.