Masand Blind: Shelter for the Accused

Shelter for the Accused

In further evidence that there has been little consequence for those named and shamed in the MeToo wave, it turns out a filmmaker who had to exit his under-production film after being accused of sexual harassment some months ago is already plotting his comeback. The director was accused by more than one woman, and after the leading man of his film distanced himself from the filmmaker, he had to quit the project.

Now, according to well-placed sources, one learns the filmmaker has been meeting a buffed- up action star for a film together. The actor was on a lucky streak last year that sadly ended with his most recent release, a spy thriller that tanked at the box office. According to sources, the actor has had multiple meetings with the director and they've agreed on a script. Since the actor is likely to produce the film himself, it could be easier to hire the director without opposition from other parties. Ironical because the actor has worked with the director previously (in a multi-starrer film) and famously complained that he did not enjoy the experience.

Just months ago there were rumours the director (also a popular television personality) was putting together a one-man stage performance he was intending to travel with since film work was proving hard to come by. It seems however that public memory is short, and Bollywood's attitude towards harassment is dismissive at best. Sigh.