Actor Huma Qureshi, who worked with Anurag Kashyap on Gangs of Wasseypur, has said that she is furious that her name has been drawn into allegations of sexual misconduct against the filmmaker by an actor named Payal Ghosh.
Huma took to Twitter on Tuesday to share his statement, in which he emphasized the need to uphold the sanctity of the Me Too movement. She wrote: “Anurag and I last worked together in 2012-13 and he is a dear friend and extremely talented director. In my personal experience and to my knowledge, he has not misbehaved to me or anyone else. However, anyone who claims to have been abused must report it to the authorities, the police and the judiciary ”.
He continued: “I chose not to comment until now because I don’t believe in fights on social media or media testing. I feel really angry that I was dragged into this mess. I get angry not only for myself, but also for all the women whose years of hard work and struggle boil down to unsubstantiated speculation and accusations in their workplace. Please refrain from this narrative. It is the joint responsibility of women and men to carefully protect the sanctity of #MeToo. This is my final answer. Please do not approach me for further comment on this matter. “
On Saturday Payal took to Twitter and, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wrote: “Anurag Kashyap has imposed himself on me and very badly. Narendra Modi ji, please take action and let the country see the devil behind this creative. I am aware that it may harm me and my safety is at risk. Please help! “Payal, in an interview with Bollywood Hungama, stated that she told him that female actors such as Richa Chaddha, Mahie Gill and Huma would perform sexual favors on him and he expected the same from her.
Anurag’s attorney issued a statement denying the allegations. The statement read: ‘My client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply hurt by the false allegations of sexual misconduct that have recently been raised against him. These accusations 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. Fictitious allegations of this nature seriously undermine the movement and seek to outright bargain with the pain and trauma of actual victims of sexual harassment and abuse. My client has been informed of his legal rights and remedies and intends to exercise them to the fullest extent possible: Priyanka Khimani. “
Several film personalities, including Mahie, who also worked with Anurag on Gangs of Wasseypur, have provided testimonials about Anurag. Kangana Ranaut, however, has expressed support for the accuser.
Also read: Anurag Kashyap’s ex-wife, Kalki Koechlin, criticizes allegations of sexual assault against him: ‘You defended my integrity even after the divorce’
Anurag’s two former wives, film editor Aarti Bajaj and actor Kalki Koechlin, have criticized the allegations and hailed Anurag as an advocate for women both on and off screen. “Dear Anurag,” Kalki wrote in a statement. “Do not let this circus of social networks affect you, you have fought for the freedom of women in your scripts, you have defended their integrity both in your professional space and in your personal life. I have witnessed this, in the personal and professional space they have always seen me as their equal, they have defended my integrity even after our divorce, and they have supported me when I felt unsafe in a work environment even before they met. “
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