The #MeToo movement has reared its head yet again. And standing in its spotlight is none other than director Rajkumar Hirani. Over the weekend, a report in Huffington Post read that a woman crew member of Hirani’s Sanju crew alleged that she was abused sexually by Hirani between March - September 2018. HuffPost India spoke to the woman and shared excerpts from the email. "I remember forming these words on my lips - 'Sir. This is wrong...Because of this power structure. You being the absolute power and me being a mere assistant, a nobody - I will never be able to express myself to you. My mind, body and heart were grossly violated that night and for the next 6 months," the woman wrote of the April 9 incident in the email. SHOCKING! 'Sanju' Director Rajkumar Hirani Accused of Sexual Misconduct By His Assistant; Read Deets
However, when a portal got in touch with Dia Mirza, who had last worked with Hirani in Sanju. Dia Mirza told Pinkvilla, "I am deeply distressed by this news. As someone who has known and respects Raju Sir for 15 years, I can only hope that a due official enquiry is conducted. He is one of the most decent human beings I have ever worked with and I think it would be grossly unjust on my part to speak on this as I do not know the details." #MeToo Against Rajkumar Hirani: Why Was The Director Not Dropped From the First Poster of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga?
A statement that Rajkumar Hirani released earlier, read, “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. 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."
The MeToo movement that kicked off a major storm in the industry cooled off in the last few months. However, things now seem to be heating up with Rajkumar Hirani’s name popping up. All we wish to see is justice be served to the victims.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 14, 2019 05:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).