New Delhi:

Almost a decade after actor Shilpa Shinde’s explosive fallout with the makers of Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain, she recently claimed that the sexual-harassment case she filed against producer Sanjay Kohli was not true. Amid growing online backlash against Shilpa Shinde, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) took to social media yesterday to call out her actions and urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take necessary steps to condemn such wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Shilpa Shinde shared a video of herself on social media some time ago, with the message, “Always ready to say, jo ukhadna hai ukhad lo. (Do whatever you want to do).” Considering the timing of the posts amid the ongoing controversy, Shilpa Shinde’s cryptic message has grabbed eyeballs.

AICWA’s Post

Taking to Instagram, AICWA wrote, “The reported admission by actress Shilpa Shinde during comedian Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s podcast regarding the alleged false sexual-harassment allegations made against Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain producer Sanjay Kohli is a matter of serious concern for the entire Bollywood film and television industry.”

The statement continued, “A false sexual-harassment allegation can cause irreparable damage to a person’s reputation, family, children, career and mental well-being. Such accusations can permanently tarnish an individual’s image and have devastating consequences not only for the accused but also for their family members and loved ones.”

“The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) believes that if a person knowingly makes false allegations, it not only harms the accused but also undermines the credibility of genuine victims who come forward seeking justice. Such incidents can create doubt around legitimate complaints and make it more difficult for real survivors of harassment within the Bollywood film industry to be heard and believed.”

“It is important to make it clear that not all women make false allegations. Thousands of women in the film and television industry have genuinely faced harassment and exploitation and deserve support, respect and justice. The actions of one individual should never be used to discredit or question the experiences of genuine victims,” they added.

AICWA’s Appeal To Maharashtra Chief Minister

Furthermore, stating how truth and justice should prevail, AICWA added, “The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) urges the Honourable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, to ensure a fair and thorough examination of this matter. If it is established that false allegations were knowingly made, strict action should be taken in accordance with the law. Accountability is essential to protect both innocent individuals from false accusations and genuine victims seeking justice.”

“False allegations and genuine harassment are both serious matters, and the law must deal with each appropriately,” the post concluded.

The Controversy

Shilpa’s exit from Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain in 2016 sparked one of the television industry’s most talked-about disputes. At the time, she left the hit comedy show amid disagreements over her contract and alleged delays in payment. The producers accused her of breaching professional commitments and issued legal notices demanding that she resume shooting.

The dispute soon escalated into a prolonged legal and public battle. Shilpa levelled several allegations against the show’s producers, including claims of workplace harassment and attempts to sideline her within the industry. She also alleged that she was being pressured into restrictive contractual arrangements.

The matter was eventually settled out of court, with both sides resolving their differences and her pending payments reportedly being cleared.

Recently, Shilpa Shinde admitted that she had lodged a fake sexual-harassment case against Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain producer Sanjay R. Kohli 10 years ago, saying she had “no other option” because they allegedly wanted her to sign a contract preventing her from working in other productions, on the YouTube channel of comedians Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa.

Following her remarks, a Delhi-based men’s rights organisation, NCM India Council for Men Affairs, asked the Mumbai Police to initiate action against the actor.

Pooja Bedi criticised her alongside Hina Khan. Reacting to the criticism, Shilpa clarified she did not expect support from anyone and said she would not justify her actions, no matter what people think.

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Director Advait Chandan and Dharma Productions have decided to part ways on Dostana 2, sources told NDTV.

Chandan had been attached to direct the latest version of the project and spent close to seven months developing the film before both sides mutually decided to move in different directions.

According to sources, the decision was driven by creative differences, with the filmmaker and the studio envisioning different approaches for the franchise. However, sources emphasised that the separation was entirely amicable.

“Yes, Advait was initially set to direct the film, but he and Dharma Productions eventually decided to part ways. The decision was driven by creative differences, as their respective visions for the franchise did not align. The separation was entirely amicable, and there is no bad blood between him and Karan. All is well between them,” a source told NDTV.

The latest development adds another chapter to the long journey of Dostana 2, the sequel to Dharma Productions’ 2008 hit Dostana. The film was first announced in 2019 with Kartik Aaryan, Janhvi Kapoor and Lakshya in the lead. Collin D’Cunha was set to make his feature directorial debut with the project, but that version was eventually shelved.

Dharma Productions later began work on a fresh version of the film. Industry sources had indicated that the reworked project was expected to star Vikrant Massey and Lakshya, with former Miss India World Sini Shetty being considered for the female lead.

Chandan subsequently came on board to helm the project and had been working closely on its development over the past several months. The collaboration had generated considerable interest within the industry, especially given the filmmaker’s track record with films such as Secret Superstar, Laal Singh Chaddha and most recently Loveyapa.

Sources say discussions around the film’s creative direction eventually led to both parties arriving at the decision to pursue separate paths. There is, however, no acrimony surrounding the move.

Dharma Productions is expected to continue developing the project and is likely to begin the search for a new director. Despite its multiple reinventions over the years, Dostana 2 remains one of the studio’s most anticipated projects, largely because of the popularity of the original film and the curiosity surrounding its eventual revival.

ALSO READ | What’s Next For Farhan Akhtar After The Don 3 Fallout With Ranveer Singh?

New Delhi:

A week after issuing a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer Singh, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has now withdrawn the directive. 

Following this development, Poonam Dhillon revealed that Ranveer’s father personally reached out to thank her for publicly supporting the actor during the controversy. The actress, who is also the President of the Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA), shared that the family was deeply appreciative of the solidarity shown by members of the film industry. 

In an interview with Variety India, Poonam Dhillon said, “As an actor and as the President of CINTAA, I’m happy that they’ve revoked the directive because he definitely didn’t deserve it. We opposed it from the beginning because FWICE had absolutely no credibility to take such action against an actor of his caliber.” 

She added, “As an actor, he has the right to choose his work, and it is between him and the producer how they handle the matter. He is responsible and committed to his work, and we have seen that through his body of work.”

Poonam Dhillon pointed out Ranveer’s longstanding professional relationship with Excel Entertainment through films such as Gully Boy and Dil Dhadakne Do. 

“As far as I know, he has an excellent relationship with Excel Entertainment, with whom he has made films like Gully Boy and Dil Dhadakne Do. Farhan Akhtar is also an actor, so our support extends to him as well. We wouldn’t want any of our actors to face such issues. Problems can always be resolved. We support Ranveer because he is a member of CINTAA,” she mentioned. 

Poonam Dhillon shared that she had a lengthy discussion with Jagjit Singh Bhavnani, Ranveer Singh’s father, following the resolution of the matter. 

The actress said, “I spoke to Ranveer’s father at length and we have been corresponding on WhatsApp. He thanked me for our support. We spoke to understand the situation better. He told me they had been in touch with Excel Entertainment and spoke about how close he is to Farhan and the entire Excel team. There is no animosity from his side. They were unhappy with the way FWICE handled the matter.”

She added, “I asked whether CINTAA could be of any help, but he said, ‘We didn’t involve you because we didn’t want to trouble you, and we’re already in the process of sorting it out.’ Technically, he didn’t need our intervention. I’m glad the matter has been resolved positively.”

Ranveer Singh made headlines after reportedly exiting Don 3, with Excel Entertainment seeking Rs 45 crore for pre-production losses and prompting an FWICE non-cooperation notice. With the directive now revoked, the dispute seems to be heading toward a resolution.