#MeToo movement: Big-ticket filmmakers come under fire

MUMBAI: Bollywood's bigticket directors and producers were caught in a quagmire of allegations as the #MeToo movement gained further momentum. Director Sajid Khan quit 'Housefull 4' after two women accused him of sexual harassment.
Accused actor Nana Patekar is also a member of the cast. Actress Saloni Chopra, his former assistant, described several incidents of personal abuse and said working with Khan was the "most awful time of her life".
Khan tweeted: "In the wake of the allegations against me and 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...Request my friends in the media to kindly not pass judgment till the truth is out."
The film's lead actor Akshay Kumar said he too stepped down. He posted: "I've requested the producers 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."
Allegations of rape against producer Karim Morani resurfaced Friday. Morani, who produced Chennai Express and RaOne, had been charged with rape, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and cheating in January 2017. He had spent two months in jail. A 21-year-old Delhi-based aspiring actress had alleged Morani took objectionable pictures and videos and sexually exploited her by threatening to post them on social media.
Director Subhash Ghai was accused of having raped a woman after spiking her drink. On Thursday, a anonymous post was shared on Twitter. The accuser said Ghai often invited her to latenight sessions at his flat. He forcibly tried to kiss her and touch her, and once spiked her drink and drove her to a hotel where he allegedly raped her. Ghai denied the allegations saying, "It is sad that it is becoming a fashion to malign anyone known. I deny strictly and firmly all false allegations like these. If she claims this way, she should go to the court of law and prove it. Justice will be done or I will go for defamation certainly."
As the #MeToo campaign echoed in South India too, actor-politician Kamal Haasan said men accused of sexual harassment should respond to the allegations.