Here's a look at all the Bollywood friendships interrupted by the #MeToo Movement
Here's a look at all the Bollywood friendships interrupted by the #MeToo Movement
Last year, the #MeToo Movement created a storm in B-Town. And the aftershocks continue to be felt this year as well. Even though it’s often said that there are no permanent friends or enemies in the industry, the naming of those accused has soured some of their friendships built over the years.
Interestingly, one of the foundations of these bonds was also the success of their collaborations. And what a flop or a not-so-successful movie couldn’t do, was done by the outing and shaming of the accused.
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This Bollywood dosti suffered a hit when an assistant of Rajkumar Hirani accused him of sexual harassment. She reportedly alleged that he took advantage of being her boss during the making of Sanju and since she was new to the job, she suffered in silence then. Now, after she has outed him, the filmmaker’s and his company Rajkumar Hirani Films’ name as co-producer has been removed from the creatives of his long-term friend and filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s upcoming release, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.
Raju and Vinod’s association goes back to 1994, when the Munna Bhai franchise director edited the promos of the latter’s 1942: A Love Story. Next, Vinod called him to edit Mission Kashmir (2000), after his editor had fallen ill. And when Hirani wanted to make Munna Bhai MBBS, he requested Chopra to put in a word for him to Anil Kapoor. The Parinda maker agreed on the condition that he would help only if he liked the script. And when he heard the script, he wanted to produce it. And the rest, as they say is history.
Interestingly, the two filmmakers were said to be heading for a split in 2015, when Raju wanted to produce the Sanjay Dutt biopic with his leading man Ranbir Kapoor. Back then, they denied the news and went on to produce Sanju together.
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Sajid Khan had already begun directing Sajid Nadiadwala’s next big production, Housefull 4, with a huge cast, when he was named by three women in the wake of the #MeToo Movement. With Nana Patekar, who was also a part of this Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh and Bobby Deol starrer, too, named by Tanushree Dutta, this film was in the news for the wrong reasons.
As the campaign against sexual harassment at work gained momentum, the film’s biggest star, Akshay, issued a statement to ensure a safe work environment for women. And as the movement garnered increasing traction on social media, Sajid had no option but to opt out halfway through the film. Even as Farhad (of Sajid-Farhad duo, who had directed Housefull 3 before) took over the reins of direction, Sajid Khan was banned by the director’s association for a year.
Consequently, his exit from the film has created a wedge between him and his filmmaker buddy. Incidentally, Khan and Nadiadwala had a fallout after Housefull 2 (2012) over creative difference. However, after a couple of years, they buried the hatchet and Khan was even quoted saying, “In 17 years of friendship, two years of enmity is permitted.” Now, it remains to be seen for how long the after-effects of their ‘break-up’ lasts.
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This was the first casualty of the #MeToo Movement. Vikas Bahl was first reportedly accused of harassment by an assistant of Anurag Kashyap during a party of Bombay Velvet (2015). When her verbal complaints were reportedly not being taken seriously, she wrote to the founding partners of Phantom Films (Anurag, Vikas, Madhu Mantena and Vikramaditya Motwane) and also Reliance Entertainment, which was in a partnership with them.
While this created a divide between Vikas and his partner buddies, it was only in the latter part of 2018 when Phantom Films was dissolved that the bitter battle was out in the open. Moreover, Vikas filed a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Anurag and Vikramaditya, which is still going on in the High Court.
Interestingly, with this gang of friends, too, there were reports a couple of years ago that they would split their production house. However, the four denied it back then and it was attributed to their association with Reliance.
Incidentally, this friendship also goes back a long way, when Anurag produced Aamir (2008) with UTV Motion Pictures, where Vikas was in the production team. And Vikramaditya began his association with Anurag on Paanch (2003), for which he worked on the sound design. While this is one instance of the #MeToo after-effects that saw friends become foes, it’s unlikely they will shake hands again.
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