Filmmaker Onir spoke about Zain Khan to The Hindu on Friday.
“The [#MeToo] movement is gaining momentum with so many voices joining in. There is a lot happening even without legal recourse being taken. I mentored Zain Khan for four years. I had him on as an assistant with the intent of eventually launching him. The idea was to audition new actors/actresses and build our own talent pool. My first impression of him was that of a poet, an educated man. It was two months after the release of Kuch Bheege Alfaaz that the other side of him came to my notice and it shook me.”
“I knew of Saloni as the girlfriend he was breaking up with. It was his best friend who had put up Saloni’s blog in which she had written about the abusive relationship without taking names. I immediately spoke to her and met her. I met another girl who was afraid to come out. I tried to give voice to the girls but am unhappy that I couldn’t. As he was my talent, I decided not to work with him and also personally informed everyone working with him or about to work with him,” he said.
“[Radio channel] 92.7 FM had a Lamhe With Zain show. Kabir Khan thanked me for informing him. I got in touch with Vidhu Vinod Chopra production (Zain is working on his next film) for a professional breach of contract on Zain’s part and also told a few people close to the production house about the assault allegation,” he added.