New Delhi: The 16th season of BIGG BOSS has begun, and all the competitors have entered the Bigg Boss house. Sajid Khan, a filmmaker who has been rather low-key over the last four years, has also joined the game reality show. Sajid talked with the show's presenter, Salman Khan, during the premiere and said that he had been unemployed for the last four years.
For the unversed, director Sajid Khan was the subject of many allegations of sexual harassment during India's MeToo movement. Sajid has been accused of sexual misconduct by many female coworkers in 2018. Because of these claims, the Indian Film and Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) eventually blacklisted him as a director.
The previous Bigg Boss contestant, actress Shehnaaz Gill also lent her support to Sajid Khan. She was seen supporting Sajid in a video message, urging him to be himself throughout the show.
She said in Hindi, “Hi Sajid Bhai, congratulations aap Bigg Boss me ja rahe ho. Mai bhot khush hu. Aur jaise aap logo ko TV me hasaate aaye ho, apni scripts ke through hasaate ho. Mai chahti hu ki idhar reality show me bhi na poora faad dena. Apna entertain karna logo ko. Hame ladaaiyaan nahi dekhni please. Ham chahte hai ki aap entertain karo, jaise real me ho waise hi waha pe rehna. And haa, meri support aapke sath hai. All the best.”
Sajid also said that he and Shehnaaz have become so close over the last few months that he treats her like his younger sister. The director also shared the news that they would be working together on something shortly.
Some of Shehnaaz's followers afterward tweeted that she was wrong to support Sajid because of his status as a #MeToo offender. Viewers are also disappointed to see director Sajid Khan competing with the other contenders.
Some believe Shehnaaz was just attempting to win Sajid over so she could star in his films. Others were critical that it was an attempt to improve the director's reputation.
Check out some of the trolls:
As he entered Bigg Boss, Sajid Khan did not address the #MeToo allegations. However, many online users even went so far as to launch a petition against him. More than 500 people have signed the petition so far.
The petition reads, "Bigg Boss using the pain, trauma and anger of Indians to generate publicity is deeply hurtful. We cannot and will not stand by as this happens."