India’s Hindi Film Industry is stung by yet another #MeToo controversy. High profile Director, Rajkumar Hirani has been accused of sexually abusing a woman on more than one occasion over a six-month period between March and September 2018. “My mind, body and heart were grossly violated that night and for the next 6 months,” the girl wrote in a letter explaining her alleged ordeal which was published by Huff Post India.
According to the report, the girl had also sent an email detailing the harassment she faced to Hirani and his colleagues, including Vidhu Vinod Chopra and his wife Anupama Chopra, director Shelly Chopra and scriptwriter Abhijat Joshi. It is reported that due to this controversy, Vinod Chopra Films has dropped Rajkumar Hirani Films from their upcoming film ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga’. Also, it seems, the highly anticipated film ‘Munna Bhai 3’ has been put on hold.
Rajkumar Hirani has denied these allegations of sexual misconduct. In a statement issued to the media, he 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.”