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Published: 16 Jan 2019
When the #MeToo movement began heating up in India in October 2018 following allegations on Nana Patekar and Sajid Khan amongst others, the industry remained majorly quiet. Now, when Rajkumar Hirani has come under the radar over sexual harassment allegations, support for him has started pouring in. We have seen Javed Akhtar defend the filmmaker apart from Boney Kapoor, Karishma Tanna, Dia Mirza, Arshad Warsi lending a word or two of support to him. Now, Raageshwari, too, has spoken up to defend him.
Raageshwari while talking to Times of India said that she has never met a man more decent than Raj Kumar Hirani in the film industry. "After knowing Raju for almost 20 years, I can safely say that he is amongst the most cultured, refined and peerless man I have met in the film industry. I'm not speaking as an actress cementing bonds, hence I speak with utmost honesty and with zero agenda here. I speak as a family friend and most importantly, as a woman. she said.
After the likes of Boney Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Sharman Joshi and Dia Mirza amongst many others it is veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar who has come out in support of Rajkumar Hirani. The film-maker has been accused of sexual assault by an unknown woman who was working with him on Sanju last year, reported The Indian Express.
Calling Hirani the most decent man,' Akhtar tweeted, "I had come to the film industry in 1965. After so many years, if I am asked who are the most decent people I met in this industry over almost five decades, perhaps the first name that will come to my mind is Raju Hirani. GB Shaw has said, It is too dangerous to be too good'.
The 56-year-old who has made super hits like Munna Bhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots and PK has denied the allegations in a statement. "I was completely shocked when these allegations were brought to my notice about two months back. I had suggested immediately that it is essential to take this matter to any committee or any legal body, Hirani said in an official statement. "The complainant has chosen to go to the media instead. I want to very strongly state that this is a false, malicious and mischievous story being spread with the sole intention of destroying my reputation.
In a recent interview, even actor Arshad Warsi said he was shocked to hear about Hirani's case. "I have known Raju sir for so many years. I have never seen him do one thing wrong. He is a thorough gentleman. He is a nice, sweet and hardworking person, he said. "It's hard. It's very difficult to believe. When I heard it, it was a shock for me just like everybody else. I couldn't believe it. I still don't, to be honest.
Echoing the sentiments, producer Boney Kapoor also stated he doesn't believe the accusations. "Rajkumar Hirani is too good a man to do something like this. I don't believe this allegation. He can never do something like this, he declared.
Mirza and Joshi, who have worked with Hirani, also stood by him and refused to believe anything being said about the film-maker.
Karishma Tanna has now spoken up but she unlike Dia supports Hirani entirely and had quite a few words to say.
Karishma, in a recent interview, said that whoever the accuser of the sexual harassment row is, is actually quite immature, and she is quite shocked and upset that with the allegations. She went on to add that Rajkumar Hirani being a veteran and respectable director and producer, she cannot even think of such a thing. The Sanju actress said that having worked with Hirani it has been a brilliant pleasure and an outstanding experience for her. Karishma said the person could have simply said no instead of putting false allegations against people.
Shiv Shakti
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