New Delhi: Filmmaker Rajukumar Hirani, who delivered the blockbuster Ranbir Kapoor starrer ‘Sanju’ in 2018, has been accused of sexual harassment by a woman who worked with him in the film. The woman, as reported by Huffington post, alleged that the ‘PK’ director had sexually abused her on more than once occasion between March and September last year. Hirani has issued a statement denying the allegations against him, calling them ‘false’ and ‘defamatory’.
#MeToo: Rajkumar Hirani accused of sexual harassment by an Assistant Director of 'Sanju'
Veteran actress Amardeep Jha, who was part of Hirani’s ‘3 Idiots’, said that she was shocked to know about the serious allegations against him. The ‘Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai’ actress, while talking to an entertainment portal, opened up about working with the director and what kind of person she thinks he is.
"I'm shocked. I cannot even believe this. He was a man whom I used to look up to. On the sets, he used to be like a walking angel. With utmost positivity, he used to treat everyone equally on the sets. I have only interacted with him on the sets and what I know of him as a person, this comes as a major shocker. I cannot even dream about it," the ‘Bidaai- Sapna Babul Ka’ actress told Bollywoodlife.
The actress, who is currently seen in ‘Nazar’, said that she cannot pass any judgments on the girl but she believed Hirani couldn’t do this.
"After hearing the news I have lost my mental peace. This is something that will be running in my head for so long. I cannot pass any judgments on the girl but I strongly believe he cannot do this. You can totally understand what is running in someone's head. He never even passed any lewd comments or made crass jokes on the sets", Amardeep further told the portal.
"I don't know the girl and I'm no one to pass any judgments. But I really hope and pray that whosoever is the innocent his/her truth should be out and should get justice," the ‘Amrit Manthan’ actress added.
Rajkumar Hirani has denied all the allegations against him. "I was completely shocked when these allegations were brought to my notice about two months back. I had suggested immediately that it is essential to take this matter to any committee or any legal body. The complainant has chosen to go to the media instead. I want to very strongly state that this is a false, malicious and mischievous story being spread with the sole intention of destroying my reputation," his statement read.
The #MeToo movement started in Bollywood after Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her on the sets of the film ‘Horn Ok Pleasssss’. Since then, several women have come forward to tell their tales and names like Sajid Khan, Vikas Bahl, Alok Nath, Anu Malik have cropped up.
Watch this space for more updates!