Rajkumar Hirani's lawyer has denied the allegations, calling them defamatory and malicios, Details inside...
While the denizens of the country thought that the #MeToo Movement has taken a backseat in India, especially after Tanushree Dutta, who is said to have triggered the movement in India, recently left the country and went back to the US, Sanju director Rajkumar Hirani has been accused of sexual assault by one of his female assistant directors who has worked with him on the Sanjay Dutt biopic, starring Ranbir Kapoor in the lead. Rajkumar Hirani is known for her family-oriented films, having a mass appeal, like the MunnaBhai series, 3 Idiots and PK.
A report on HuffingtonPost India shared the details of the matter and brought to light that the victim had made a complaint to Hirani's co-producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra over an email that also marked his wife Anupama Chopra, sister Shelly Chopra (who has helmed the upcoming film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga) and screenwriter Abhijat Joshi. Reportedly, the victim was sexually abused by Hirani for more than a period of six months between March 2018 to September 2018, mostly during the post-production work of Sanju.
Finally, Hirani has broken his silence on the matter and released an official statement which says that it's a "false, malicious and mischievous story being spread with the sole intention of destroying my reputation."
Read on for the full statement and details about the matter...
1. Rajkumar Hirani allegedly sexually abused the woman working with him on 'Sanju'
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If the report on Huffpost is anything to go by, then the woman in her first email dated November 3, 2018, had mentioned that Hirani first made a sexually suggestive remark to her on April 9, 2018 and she was sexually assaulted at his home-come-office thereafter.
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2. "My mind, body and heart were grossly violated that night and for the next 6 months" - victim
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The report quoted the complainant in her email to Vichu Vinod Chopra and others as saying, "“I remember forming these words on my lips - “Sir. This is wrong...Because of this power structure. You being the absolute power and me being a mere assistant, a nobody - I will never be able to express myself to you.”
She also added, "My mind, body and heart were grossly violated that night and for the next 6 months.”
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3. "I had no choice but to be polite to him" - victim
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The report mentions that until the incident, the victim likened Hirani as a father figure. While speaking to the portal, the complainant shared that Hirani,who is about 30 years elder to her, was her boss at that time and that she was intimidated by him. She was quoted as saying, "I had no choice but to be polite to him,It was unbearable but the reason I endured it all, until I couldn’t, was because I didn’t want my job to be taken away from me, and work to be questioned. Ever. “I was worried that if I left midway, it would be impossible to find another job in this industry if he were to speak badly about my work, Because if Hirani said I wasn’t good, everybody would listen. My future would be in jeopardy.”
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4. The allegations are not only false, but are malicious and defamatory - Rajkumar Hirani's lawyer
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Rajkumar Hirani has not commented on the matter directly, but has denied the allegations of sexual abuse through his lawyer. His lawyer was quoted as saying by the portal, "..the allegations made by the ”complainant” are not only false, but are malicious and defamatory.”
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5. "I've met the complainant twice and offered her my full support" - Anupama Chopra
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While Vidhu Vinod Chopra didn't comment on the matter directly, his wife - noted film critic Anupama Chopra told HuffPot, "I’ve met the complainant twice. Both times, I have offered my full support and recommended that she take the complaint to a legal body or a neutral party since we cannot be arbitrators or judges on this. We also offered to set up an ICC at VCF (which we have set up since then) even though a VCF ICC could not have taken up the case since she was an RHF (Rajkumar Hirani Films) employee at the time. These are two separate companies."
Anupama added, "She stayed at our house for two nights. We also provided the number of an expert on the issue so she could talk to a professional. She said she needed time to think through how she will take it forward. I did not want in any way to pressurise her or steer her in any direction. As Vinod and I told her then, she has our full support and we are fully respectful of whatever decision she has taken.”
(File Photo: Image used for representation purpose only)
6. Repercussions? Rajkumar Hirani's name dropped from 'Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga' credits
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While Hirani has categorically denied the allegations, his name has been dropped from the credits of the upcoming film of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's production which was co-produced by Rajkumar Hirani Films - Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, starring Sonam Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla and Rajkummar Rao.
Looks like the allegations on Hirani have taken a toll on the amicable relationship shared between Hirani and Vidhu Chopra. The teaser of the film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga that released on June 27, 2018 credits Rajkumar Hirani as the co-producer. However, when the trailer of the film was released, post the accusations against Hirani, on December 26, 2018, Hirani's name seems to have been dropped as it credits Vidhu Vinod Chopra as the sole producer of the film. Reportedly Anupama chopra did not respond on being quizzed about why Hirani's name was dropped from the credits.
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7. Rajkumar Hirani BREAKS SILENCE on sexual harassment allegations against him
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As per recent updates, Sanju director Rajkumar Hirani has finally broken his silence on the allegations of sexual harassment made against him. In an official statement shared with the media, Hirani has said, "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."
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