Bollywood shocked by Shiney Ahuja's rape charges, stand by him !!
"It was like a body blow, a sense of deep shame because of the disconnect. Shiney that I interacted with was charming, decent guy who would come home and wine and dine with us. He was somebody you could take and meet the most respected people who came to your homes. I am not an entertaining man and do not generally invite people home, but Shiney is one of the few who has not only come home with his wife but who charmed my entire family. He was courteous, dignified and proper. But when it (the news of rape) comes to us via newspapers and television networks, it was nothing short of a shock," said film producer Mahesh Bhatt, whose critically and commercially successful Gangster (2006) helped Ahuja get a strong footing in Bollywood.
Bhatt has also condemned the media frenzy over the incident, saying they should restrain from pre-judging the actor as "we are just in the very first stage of trial."
"It (the trial) has not even begun. The police are still investigating and there are already voices in Bollywood saying that he was trapped. There is a counterpoint assuming that he was trapped, then who ever set out to trap him has succeeded in trapping because that's what the medical reports say," he said.
Bhatt also felt strange that though some police officers said that Ahuja vehemently claimed that they had consensual sex, they decided to go ahead and accept the maid's version i.e. she was raped. However, Bhatt said he has faith in the legal process and "if he (Ahuja) is found guilty of rape, we have to condemn him."
Related Story: Shiney Ahuja in deep trouble, medical report shows rape committed on domestic help
Agrees Ahuja's former publicist Dale Bhagwagar. "From last (Sunday) evening, there has been widespread media reaction and speculation about him. I understand that television is much about sensationalism, but at the same time, I feel that the channels need to restrain themselves a bit in such matters, before jumping to conclusions or tarnishing Shiney's image. Our constitution says, a man is innocent until proven guilty. I guess, we just need to give this a little more time, until there is clarity about what really happened," Bhagwagar said.
"I've known Shiney for almost four years now. He is a good human being and I will do all that is possible to help him," he added.
"I am saddened and shocked by the news. If it is said that the girl was raped, then justice should be done. But I have worked with Shiney in two movies and have had a decent working relationship with him.There's nothing wild about him.That's why this has come has a shocker," said Chitrangda Singh, Bollywood actress and Ahuja's co-star in Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi.
"It's shocking! I can't believe it. We don't know for sure what transpired between Shiney and the girl and we really can't say what the truth us. But if it really happened it's sad," said Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty who had worked with Ahuja in Life in a Metro.
4