Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his apartment in June (Archive)
Mumbai:
The Mumbai film industry, facing massive scrutiny and accusations after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, has attacked what it calls “relentless attacks on the reputation” of the industry. In a sharp letter addressing allegations of nepotism, intimidation and drugs, Bollywood filmmakers allege “vile and cruel trolling” as well as rapes and death threats and urge newcomers not to be discouraged by industry criticism. cinematographic.
There are some things more important than ad revenue and ratings, the open letter says in a scathing message to the media.
“The tragic death of a promising young star has been used by some as a tool to smear and smear the film industry and its members,” the Producers Guild of India said in an open letter.
“An image of the industry has been painted as a terrible place to which outsiders aspire; a place that treats those who dare to enter it with contempt and derision; a murky haunt of substance abuse and criminality.”
The letter said that while the film industry had its imperfections, “painting an entire industry with the same brush is a gross misrepresentation of reality.”
Sushant Singh Rajput, a 34-year-old star who successfully transitioned from television to film, died on June 14, leaving his legions of fans in shock and the film fraternity battling accusations of harassment of newcomers. , nepotism and toxic rivalries.
Recently, as multiple investigations into the circumstances of the actor’s death yielded a drug-related twist, the film industry has faced more speculation and rumors about the stars.
“We do not deny the personal experiences of anyone in the industry, and certainly many of those who enter the business and seek to establish themselves have faced numerous difficulties, struggles and disappointments in the course of building a career here,” said the group of filmmakers. , adding that this was no different from the challenges faced by a new entrant in “whatever field they were not born into,” be it politics, law, business, medicine or the media.
“However, a concerted effort has been made to single out the film industry as one that specifically inhibits and prohibits new talent from abroad from flourishing. This could not be further from the truth,” the letter said.
“Being born into the industry definitely gives you the privilege of access and a first break, but after that it depends on the talent, hard work and drive of each individual to propel them forward,” the guild said.
“This is so that all aspiring filmmakers know not to be fooled by the clickbait journalism currently being sold to promote the tabloid narrative that the film industry is a terrible place to aspire to work. This is a place that Ultimately, it rewards your talent, work ethic, and ability to connect with an audience, regardless of religion, gender, caste or economic status. “
.
