After being accused of sexual misconduct, Anurag Kashyap ‘intends to pursue legal remedies'. (Express photo by Vasant Prabhu)After actor Payal Ghosh on Saturday alleged that filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had sexually harassed her, Kashyap responded in a series of tweets in Hindi saying her allegations were an attempt to “silence him”. On Monday, the filmmaker took to social media to share a press statement from his lawyer Priyanka Khimani.
“My client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply pained by the false allegations of sexual misconduct that have recently surfaced against him. These allegations are completely false, malicious and dishonest. It is sad that a social movement as important as the #metoo movement has been co-opted by vested interests and reduced to a mere tool for character assassination. Fictitious allegations of this nature seriously undermine the movement and seek to unconscionably trade upon the pain and trauma of actual victims of sexual harassment and abuse. My client has been fully advised of his rights and remedies in law and intends to pursue them to the fullest extent,” read the full statement.
Payal Ghosh, in her tweet, had written that Anurag Kashyap had “forced himself” on her and “extremely badly.” The actor had requested the Prime Minister to take necessary action and provide her with security.
After Ghosh’s tweet, Chairperson of National Commission for Women India (NCW), Rekha Sharma requested the actor to submit a detailed complaint. Meanwhile, a slew of Bollywood personalities (Swara Bhasker, Taapsee Pannu, Radhika Apte, Tisca Chopra, Hansal Mehta among others) came out in support of Kashyap even as Kangana Ranaut demanded his arrest on social media.
The Milap Zaveri directorial Satyameva Jayate 2, which will also star Divya Khosla Kumar, announced its release date on Monday. The actioner, which is said to tackle corruption on all fronts as a part of its main story, will release on Eid, 2021. Director Milap Zaveri said in a statement, "Creatively, we changed the script to Lucknow as it gave us a chance to make it more massy and also make the canvas larger. Visually also Lucknow adds to the scale and grandeur. The action of this film is gonna be ten times more dynamic, heroic and powerful. John is going to smash, rip and annihilate the corrupt like he never has before on the silver screen and Divya is going to wow audiences with her power-packed scenes, dramatic prowess, grace and beauty. Eid is a perfect occasion to release as it will offer entertainment galore. With Bhushan sir, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani and Nikkhil Advani backing me once again I can promise next year on 12th May we will do our best to deliver a festive bonanza for all audiences!”
After actor Payal Ghosh mentioned her name while alleging sexual harassment charges against director Anurag Kashyap, Richa Chadha on Monday released a statement on the subject by her lawyer which read, "Our Client ‘Ms. Richa Chadda’ condemns the act of her name being unnecessarily and falsely dragged in a defamatory manner into controversies and allegations being recently raised by third parties. Though our Client believes that genuinely wronged women should get justice at all costs, there are legislations that are intended to ensure that women have an equal standing in their workplace and to ensure that they have a cordial workplace in which their dignity and self-respect is protected. No woman can be allowed to misuse their liberties to harass other women with unsubstantiated or non-existent, false and baseless allegations. Our Client has initiated appropriate legal action and shall further pursue her legal rights and remedies in law as may be advised in her best interest."
Mandana Karimi is one of the many celebrities who has come out in support of filmmaker Anurag Kashyap after he was accused of sexual harassment by actor Payal Ghosh on Sunday. In an elebaorate Instagram post, Karimi, who herself has been a part of the #MeToo movement, defended Kashyap and called him "the light." Here's her full post.
A day after actor Payal Ghosh accused filmmaker Anurag Kashyap of sexual misconduct, the 48-year-old director on social media shared a press statement by his lawyer, which said he has been “fully advised of his rights and remedies in law and intends to pursue them to the fullest extent”.
Earlier on Sunday, Kashyap, in a series of tweets, had denied the charge, terming it “baseless” and calling it an attempt to “silence” him.
Priyanka Khimani, Kashyap’s lawyer, in a statement, said: “My client has been deeply pained by the false allegations of sexual misconduct that have been surfaced against him. The allegations are completely false, malicious, and dishonest.” Read more here.