As the #MeToo fire rages on, actor-producer Chitrangadha Singh has levelled charges of harassment against Kushan Nandy, director of her movie Baabumoshai Bandookbaaz, who also happens to be the son of eminent filmmaker Pritish Nandy.
Describing her ordeal, Chitrangadha said that she left the movie in 2016 because the director was forcing her to shoot an intimate scene with the film’s male lead, Nawazuddin Siddiqui. She alleged that the director said, “Apna peticoat uthao aur ragdo apne aap ko.” Horrified with this inappropriate attitude of the director, she chose to abandon the project. Casting her ire on Nawazuddin Siddiqui, she said he was witnessing the ensuing drama but didn’t bother to intervene and take a stand against the director’s behaviour.
Director Kushan Nandy has denied the allegations stating that the intimate scene was not the reason for her walking out of the film. He said that she had already shot the intimate scenes but was unhappy with the script and wanted specific changes in it. It was her decision to not do the film. There has been a stoic silence from Pritish Nandy against the allegations insinuated against his son by actor Chitrangadha Singh as well as on the ordeal of other #MeToo victims.
More skeletons are tumbling out every day as the storm stirred by #MeToo campaign grips the nation. Victims recounting their horrifying encounters have come forward against eminent personalities from Bollywood, journalism, TV and corporate. Recently, veteran TV actor Alok Nath was accused of rape and molestation. Yesterday, comedian turned film-director, Sajid Khan was accused of sexual harassment by his female colleagues, leading to his ouster from Housefull 4 movie.