Don’t berate actors without proof: Bollywood

Actor Aditya Panscholi need not despair in his time of crisis. He has Bollywood backing him to the hilt. In the wake of the controversy over his role in the Tarannum affair, film industry insiders have stressed the need to unite under the trying circumstances.

After the Bhandarkar episode, the Aditya Pancholi incident is the second incident in a row in which allegations _ most of them are yet to be proved_ were hurled against them.

Pancholi admitted to having taken a star Sri Lankar cricketer to Deepa dance bar at Vile Parle. But he added that he did not do anything other than just accompanying the cricketer.

Filmmaker and a crusader for social causes Asok Pandit told DNA, "That Pancholi had accompanied a famous Sri Lankan cricketer to a dance bar does not tantamount to committing a crime. One's offence has to be proved before he or she is pronounced guilty."

The filmmaker added, "Time is ripe that the many associations under the film industry come together and fight against the trend of casting malice against someone unless proven guilty."

Noted film directors like Mahesh Bhatt had earlier stressed on the need for actors and others to be shielded against being dragged into controversies for possessing links with shady characters.

Film industry sources said Pancholi should undergo the trauma which film-maker Madhur Bhandarkar had to face after a barrage of allegations hurled at him by Preeti Jain - who had claimed that the film-maker had raped her. 

General secretary of the Cine and TV Artistes' Association Dharmesh Tiwari said, "If Aditya Pancholi approaches us for help, the executive committee of the association will decide on the matter."

Sources said though a section of the Bollywood stars and starlets cultivated their relationship with underworld dons and shadowy figures it is not proper to include everyone on the list.