IFTDA issues show-cause notice to Vikas Bahl, asks to reply within a week

The association condemned any kind of “predatory behaviour” against female member.

Kangana Ranaut came forward after a woman employee at Phantom Films reiterated her allegations of molestation against Vikas Bahl. (PTI)

New Delhi: The Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association  (IFTDA) issued a show-cause notice to filmmaker Vikas Bahl after taking cognisance of the allegations leveled by actress Kangana Ranaut and sought his response to the allegations. In a letter, the association has informed Bahl about the termination of his IFTDA membership as a director. The association said in release that it has taken note of the recent spurt of the sexual harassment cases against women at work places especially in the film and TV industry and has condemned any kind of “predatory behaviour” against female crew/ member of a film and TV unit. The association said it is specifically enraged at the alleged charges against member director of oFTDA Bahl, confirmed and endorsed by his own partners of Phantom Films namely Anurag Kashyap, Madhu Mantena, Vikramaditya Motwane and Neeraj Ghaywan. This despicable act has brought shame to the entire film industry and lowered the prestige of the Indian  Film and TV director’s Association, the release said. In the light of the events, IFTDA  has taken a stern stand against Vikas Bahl by issuing a show cause notice and asked him to respond within a week’s time, failing which his membership will stand cancelled. Atress Kangana Ranaut put forward her allegations after a female employee of Phantom films spoke up against Bahl after its dissolution. Kangana said she was "shamed" for not being cool enough by the director, who, Kangana says, was scared of her. "But still every time we met, socially greeted and hugged each other, he'd bury his face in my neck, hold me really tight and breathe in the smell of my hair. It took me great amount of strength and effort to pull myself out of his embrace. He'd say 'I love how you smell K'. I could tell something is wrong with him".