Actor Payal Ghosh has accused filmmaker Anurag Kashyap of forcing himself upon her. In a tweet tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she wrote, “Anurag Kashyap has forced himself on me and extremely badly. Narendra Modi ji, kindly take action and let the country see the demon behind this creative guy. I am aware that it can harm me and my security is at risk. Pls help!”
Anurag denied the allegations through his lawyer who released a statement. He said, “My client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply pained by the false allegations of sexual misconduct that have recently surfaced against him. These allegations are completely false, malicious and dishonest. It is sad that a social movement as important as the #metoo movement has been co-opted by vested interests and reduced to a mere tool for character assassination.”
While several in the industry have come out in Anurag's support, it was his ex-wife Kalki Koechlin's support that was the most profound. In a statement released on social media, Kalki hailed Anurag as a champion of women – both onscreen and off. She wrote, “Trolls toh troll karenge”.
The statement read, “Dear Anurag, don't let this social media circus get to you, you have fought for the freedom of women in your scripts, you've defended their integrity in your professional space as well as in your personal life. I have been witness to it, in the personal and professional space you have always seen me as your equal, you have stood up for my integrity even after our divorce, and you have supported me when I felt unsafe in a work environment even before we got together.”
She added, “This strange time where everyone gets to abuse one another and make false claims without any repercussions is a dangerous and repulsive one. It is destroying families, friends and countries. But there is a place of dignity that exists beyond this virtual blood bath, a place of paying attention to the needs of those around you, a place of being kind even when no one is looking, and I know you are very familiar with that place.”
Anurag's first wife, film editor Aarti Bajaj also issued a statement in his defence. “First wife here.. You are a rockstar @anuragkashyap10. Keep empowering women as you do and the safest place you create for all of them. I see it first hand with our daughter. There is no integrity left and the world is full of losers and no brains baying for blood of anyone who has a voice.” She went on to call it the “cheapest stunt”.
