Dharma Productions Issues Statement After Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Homebound Cinematographer

Cinematographer Pratik Shah has been embroiled in controversy following several allegations about his inappropriate behaviour. He was accused by independent filmmaker, Abhinav Singh, based on testimonies from over 20 women. 

Pratik, who worked in Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound, deleted his Instagram account after facing backlash on social media post the allegations.

Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, who has backed Homebound, issued an official statement, where it clarified that the POSH committee of the production house 바카라˜didn바카라™t receive any complaints against Pratik Shah from any cast or crew바카라™ during the shoot of the film.

Dharma Productions statement

The official statement read: "At Dharma Productions, we have a zero tolerance policy against inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment towards any individual working with us in any capacity, and we treat sexual harassment cases very seriously."

"Mr. Pratik Shah was a freelancer on the project Homebound and was working on it for a limited period. His engagement with us has been completed. During this limited period, our internal committee for POSH didn바카라™t receive any complaints against him from any cast or crew on our film Homebound," it read further.

What are the allegations against Homebound cinematographer Pratik Shah?

On Friday, Abhinav Singh, who directed short films like Sita and Amazon Mini TV's Yatri Kripya Dhyan De, took to Instagram to share his ordeal with Pratik Shah. He described him as "highly manipulative" and "emotionally abusive."

He wrote, "I바카라™ve spoken out, and now I바카라™m hearing from others 바카라” people who바카라™ve felt silenced or sidelined," Singh stated in his Instagram stories. 바카라œIt바카라™s heartbreaking. The patterns are undeniable. Many have called him a predator."

"Not a single man messaged to ask what happened, to listen, or to offer support. That silence is loud," he said and added, "Use your privilege to listen 바카라” really listen. Use your platform to ask difficult questions. Call out behaviour even when it바카라™s inconvenient. Do it not just for your mothers, daughters, and sisters 바카라” do it for your friends, colleagues, and peers. Being a man is not about 바카라˜being able to get it up.바카라™ Being a man 바카라” being human 바카라” is about showing up."

Filmmaker and writer Srishti Riya Jain also shared a series of posts on her Instagram handle, where she wrote that Shah has "been on the prowl for the past four years."

"To everyone pretending to act shocked, scandalised, and suddenly awoken from their slumber바카라¦ THIS man worked on one of the 바카라˜most empathetic바카라™ films of the year 바카라” or so the interviews at Cannes claimed," she wrote further.

Pratik Shah is yet to address the allegations against him.