India’s #MeToo movement has gained immense strength. Each day, we see new allegations against recognised and popular people in Bollywood.
Recently filmmaker Sajid Khan was accused by journalist Karishma Upadhyay, actress Saloni Chopra and Rachel White for sexual harassment.
Karishma Upadhyay
Yesterday, journalist Karishma Upadhyay shared a story on Twitter about her encounter with Sajid Khan and said that when she interviewed him in the early 2000s at his house, he talked about how large his penis is and how he knows how to satisfy women.
Later, he reportedly stood in front of her with his penis out and blocked her way. She pushed him and ran out crying.
Sajid Khan has preyed on women in the industry for years. Here’s my story. #MeToo pic.twitter.com/Rufzs9dsp6
— YellowGlassDragon (@karishmau) October 11, 2018
Saloni Chopra
Actress Saloni Chopra wrote her story with a blog link and said that the incident dates back to 2011 when she wanted to assist a director and learn more about filmmaking.
Shockingly, Sajid asked questions like do you masturbate and how many times a week? And also if ever been sexually abused.
Then he asked weird questions like if she would ever get a breast job, and talked about how sex is really a mental connection.
Apparently, Saloni got a job and Sajid said that she is Director’s assistant and not an assistant director.
According to her, Sajid used to harass her by calling at odd hours, mostly at night. Frustrated by calls, she finally asked that what he wanted from her, to which he replied to be his ‘keep’ and do whatever he says and promised of casting in movies if cooperated.
After her refusal, the director used to make nuisance comments like she doesn’t any future in acting and lacks good breasts and ass.
One day when Saloni went for a shoot, Sajid called her in director’s cabin asking to write an article for him.
After a while, he asked her to spread legs, to which the actress refused. Angry Sajid started commenting on her that he didn’t find her sexy and pulled his pants off showing dick and yelled “See? You don’t even make me hard!”
Saloni has also accused Zain Durrani and filmmaker Vikas Bahl.
I finally decided to share my story with you. Writing this was like re-living all that horrible past I’d chosen to let go of, but I knew if I don’t today, I may never. So here’s #metoo #MetooIndia https://t.co/brouTYIBC7
— Saloni Chopra (@redheadchopra) October 11, 2018
Rachel White
Actress Rachel White explained that during the making of Humshakals, Sajid asked her to come to his home, stared at her breasts and asked her to strip on the pretext that her role in the film required her to be in a bikini.
She wrote: “I was in a white vest and blue denims and still felt I was standing nude with that gaze.
What happens next is that he finishes his cardio and walks up to me asking me about my b**bs and making that kind of conversation. I didn’t bother to answer to anything.”
When she said that her bikini shots were a part of her portfolio, he continued to insist.
That is when she said that she was ready to do so at his office, but not his home, to which he replied that people are okay about it, implying that she mustn’t resist.
“After that, he asks me to strip for him becoz there were scenes in a bikini and he needed to see how I looked.
I replied saying “there are pics of me in bikinis sent to u ,I think that should good for u” n wen he insisted I said, “I’m ready to parade ur office in a bikini not at home.”
Sajid Khan steps down as director of Housefull 4
For the first time in his 28-year old career, Akshay Kumar cancelled a film shoot and has requested that the shooting doesn’t resume until the investigation on Sajid Khan does not reach a final conclusion.
On Twitter, the Gold actor wrote:
“I’ve just landed back in the country last night and reading all the news has been very disturbing. I’ve requested the producers of Housefull 4 to cancel the shoot until further investigation.
I will not work with any proven offenders and all those who have been subjugated to harassment should be heard and given the justice they deserve.”
With shooting coming to a halt, there are talks on the social media as to what will be the fate of Housefull 4.
However, the media predict that the film will hit release during the Diwali 2019 weekend as scheduled.
While Sajid Khan has stepped down as director of the film and might not even come back on board, the producer of the film, Sajid Nadiadwala might be hunting for someone to complete the remaining 40% shoot of the film.
Khan has also responded to these allegations on Twitter and said:
“In the wake of the allegations against me & the pressure being put on my family, my producer and the stars of my film Housefull 4, I must take the moral responsibility of stepping down from my directorial post, till the time I can allay the allegations and prove the truth…
I request my friends in the media to kindly not pass judgement till the truth is out.”
