Mumbai: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar on Friday tweeted saying that he had requested the producers of ‘Housefull 4’ to cancel the shoot following allegations of sexual misconduct against director Sajid Khan.
“I will not work with any proven offenders and those who have been subjugated to harassment should be heard and given the justice they deserve,” he wrote.
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) October 12, 2018
Not too long after Akshay’s tweet, Sajid also announced that he was stepping down as director till the time he can allay the allegations.
— Sajid Khan (@SimplySajidK) October 12, 2018
Actress Twinkle Khanna, Akshay’s spouse, also took to Twitter asking the crew members of the movie to take a stand against the offenders.
Appalled hearing multiple incidents of harassment and it is truly horrific to hear what these women have been through. Everyone involved in Housefull needs to take a firm stance on this issue. This cannot go on.
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) October 12, 2018
Tanushree Dutta had earlier mocked Twinkle when she came out in support of her after the former accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment. She asked why her husband was still working in a movie with Nana Patekar.
Sajid Khan has been accused of sexual misconduct by actresses Rachel White (Ungli) and Saloni Chopra (TV series ‘Screwed Up’), and journalist Karishma Upadhyay. Chopra wrote her account of Khan having harassed her mentally, emotionally and sexually, Rachel re-tweeted her post adding to it her own story. White said Khan had put forward a condition to her that she would get a role in his film if she could ‘seduce him in five minutes’. Likewise, Upadhyay also claimed that Khan started with “trash talk” and tried to kiss her forcibly.
Saloni Chpora tweeted to thank Akshay and Twinkle for supporting her.
Its disturbing, the other all so similar accounts from women. I’m sorry I didn’t talk earlier. Thanks @mrsfunnybones @akshaykumar for taking abuse seriously. Evidently @SimplySajidK has chosen to deflect instead of apologize. I’m not surprised.
— Saloni Chopra (@redheadchopra) October 12, 2018
