Actor Akshay Kumar who just returned to India from Italy has cancelled today’s shoot of the film, Housefull 4, slated to take place in Mumbai, after grave sexual harassment allegations against the film’s director Sajid Khan surfaced yesterday. A source close to the production house has told HT that the decision also involved the consideration that one of the actors in the under-production film is Nana Patekar, who was also accused of sexual harassment by Tanushree Dutta.

“Akshay is known to be a disciplinarian and has never cancelled a shoot in his 28 year- long career. This is the first time that he has decided to cancel a shoot, perhaps because the #metoo movement just can not be ignored.The allegations made against Sajid Khan and Nana Patekar are both serious and grave in nature,” the source informs us.

Yesterday evening as many as three women — actor Rachel White, assistant director Saloni Chopra and journalist Karishma Upadhyay -- had told their tales of sexual harassment at the hands of Sajid Khan. All the victims have revealed their identity to the media and spelt out details of how they were harassed by Khan, the brother of choreographer-director Farah Khan, and director of films such as Humshakals, Himmatwala and Heyy Baby.

The film Housefull 4 is being produced by Sajid nadiadwala and 70% of the shooting of the film has already been done in London and Jaisalmer.

Nana Patekar was accused by Tanushree Dutt 10 years ago, of sexually harassing her on the sets of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss. Tanushree, recalled that incident recently, which gave India its Me Too Momemnt. Following allegations against Nana Patekar, many victims have come out, and shamed their sexual predators irrespective of their power or money.

Follow the author @sammysamarth

First Published: Oct 12, 2018 11:11 IST