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#MeToo India Movement: The List of Accused Celebrities & Victims

metoo india

The #MeToo movement has finally arrived in India as well. With Tanushree Dutta publicly accusing Nana Patekar, more and more women are gathering the courage to open up about their ordeals. The campaign has taken its toll not only on the entertainment industry but other sectors as well. Actors, comedians, editors-in-chief, authors, journalists, businessmen have all found themselves accused of inappropriate behavior towards women.

Here’s the list of Indian celebrities accused of harassment as a part of the #MeToo movement:

1. Nana Patekar

Accused by: Tanushree Dutta (actress)

Nana Patekar’s name started doing rounds in media when Tanushree Dutta appeared with fresh allegations of sexual harassment in September 2018. Reportedly, it all started during the shoot of the 2008 movie ‘Horn Ok Pleasss.’ Tanushree Dutta also mentioned that she faced depression after the incident that took place nearly 10 years ago.

2. Vivek Agnihotri

vivek agnihotri

Accused by: Tanushree Dutta (actress)

Tanushree Dutta has also accused the director Vivek Agnihotri for harassing and asking her to remove her clothes while filming the 2005 movie ‘Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets.’

3. Alok Nath

Alok Nath Profile

Accused by: 

Defying his ‘sanskaari’ image, Alok Nath has been accused of harassment by four females. The producer and writer of the 1990 show ‘Tara’, Vinta Nanda, has leveled the charges of sexual harassment against the actor. Actress Navneet Nishan backed Vinta’s allegations and opened up that she, as well, was harassed by Alok Nath. Sandhya Mridul also revealed that even she was harassed by Alok Nath in her early years of career. Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety actress, Deepika Amin has also come forward accusing Alok Nath of harassment. Acting over the complaint filed by Vinta Nanda, an FIR has been registered against the actor by the Oshiwara Police, Mumbai.

4. Sajid Khan

Sajid Khan

Accused by:

Filmmaker Sajid Khan has been accused of sexual and mental harassment by actress, Saloni Chopra, and others. Saloni was Sajid’s former assistant director. Reportedly, Sajid asked her if she has ever been sexually abused; back when he was interviewing her for the assistant director. He told Chopra that she was the ‘director’s assistant’ and not an ‘assistant director.’ Fame Ungli actress, Rachel white and journalist, Karishma Upadhyay also have allegations leveled against him on the grounds of sexual harassment. Mandana Karimi and Simran Suri, both actresses, have leveled allegations of sexual harassment against Khan. Sajid Khan has also been accused of sexual harassment by Priyanka Bose who has worked in critically acclaimed Hollywood movie ‘Lion.’

5. Rajat Kapoor

Rajat Kapoor

Accused by: Three women (anonymous )

Actor Rajat Kapoor has been accused of harassment by three women. All the women have chosen to remain anonymous. All the three women have accused Rajat Kapoor of misconduct and two of them have even leveled the allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Allegation against Rajat Kapoor by an anonymous woman

6. Vikas Bahl

Vikas Bahl

Accused by:

Director and former co-founder of the Phantom Films, Vikas Bahl, has been accused of sexual harassment by three actresses. Kangana Ranaut and her co-star in 2013 movie Queen, Nayani Dixit, are the two actresses who had been open about the issue. However, yet another actress accused him of misconduct chose to remain anonymous. Reportedly, this #MeToo campaign against Vikas Bahl has been cited the reason behind the dissolution of Phantom Films (jointly founded by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena, and Vikas Bahl). Another actress, Saloni Chopra has also accused Bahl of harassment.

7. Kailash Kher

Kailash Kher profile

Accused by: 

  • Sona Mohapatra (singer)
  • Natasha Hemrajani (journalist)
  • Two Anonymous Women

Four women have accused ‘Allah Ke Bande’ singer, Kailash Kher of sexually harassing them. The list includes Sona Mohapatra (a famous singer), Natasha Hemrajani (a photojournalist), an anonymous fan and a journalist (anonymous).

8. Subhash Ghai

Subhash Ghai

Accused by:

Even director Subhash Ghai has not managed to get away safe. An anonymous woman has accused Ghai of drugging and raping her. Writer, Mahima Kukreja, has shared the screenshots of a private conversation of herself with the victim, who is a ‘credible media/lit personality.’ Another actress, Kate Sharma, has lodged a molestation complaint against Ghai.

9. Piyush Mishra

Actor Piyush Mishra

Accused by: Ketki Joshi (journalist)

Ketki Joshi, a journalist, has accused actor, Piyush Mishra, of sexual harassment. In a Facebook post, the journalist narrated the incident, which, reportedly, took place at a party in 2014. Joshi further said, “he grabbed my hand and started rubbing his hands against mine.”

10. Gaurang Doshi

gaurang doshi

Accused by: Flora Saini (actress)

Stree actress, Flora Saini, has indicted film producer, Gaurang Doshi, of abuse that had taken place more than a decade ago. The actress, while sharing a photograph of herself with a broken jaw, mentioned that the physical abuse, which took place on valentine’s day in 2007, not only left her without any work, but she also had to face threats from Doshi.

Flora saini

11. Chetan Bhagat

Chetan Bhagat profile

Accused by: Anusha, Ira Trivedi (author)

Chetan Bhagat, a well-known author, has also made headlines; because of a girl named Anusha, who shared WhatsApp screenshots of her chat with Bhagat while he was trying to ‘woo her.’ The ‘Five Point Someone’ author referred to the girl as ‘sweet and cute and funny and a nice human being.’ Ira Trivedi, an author, has come forward and accused Chetan Bhagat of sexual misconduct. In defense, Bhagat has put forth a proof accusing Trivedi of false claims and initiating a conversation in a flirtatious manner.

Chetan Bhagat chat

12. Anu Malik

anu malik

Accused by:

Singer Sona Mohapatra has also accused composer of being a ‘serial predator.’ She mentioned that Anu Malik would call her at odd hours and had even made a lewd remark on her in front of her husband, back in October 2006. Moreover, Shweta Pandit and Caralisa Monteiro have also accused Anu Malik of sexual misconduct.

13. M J Akbar

M J Akbar

Accused by:

  • Priya Ramani (journalist)
  • Ghazala Wahab (journalist)
  • Prerna Singh Bindra (journalist)
  • Saba Naqvi (journalist)
  • Kadambari M. Wade (journalist)
  • Shutapa Paul (journalist)
  • Suparna Sharma (journalist)
  • Harinder Baweja (journalist)
  • Shuma Raha (journalist)
  • Anju Bharti (journalist)
  • Pallavi Gogoi (journalist)

Indian politician and the Rajya Sabha member, M J Akbar, who was the Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs has sexual allegations levelled up against him by several journalists. Priya Ramani, a senior journalist, has come up as a part of the #MeToo campaign and held the minister accountable for sexual harassment, which took place back in 2008; while he was the editor of a newspaper. Ghazala Wahab, executive editor FORCE newsmagazine and co-author of the book ‘Dragon on our Doorstep: Managing China Through Military Power’ has also accused Akbar of sexual misconduct and molestation. Another US journalist, Pallavi Gogoi has shared her #MeToo moment whereby she has accused M J Akbar of raping her who also “coerced her sexually, verbally and emotionally.” Similar allegations were made by other journalists as well.

14. Abhijeet Bhattacharya

Abhijeet Bhattacharya

Accused by: A Flight Attendant (anonymous)

An anonymous flight attendant has accused Abhijeet Bhattacharya of sexual misconduct and said that the singer was ‘almost kissing and nibbling me on my left ear.’ However, the singer lashes out such reports and refers to the flight attendant as a ‘fat and ugly girl’ who just ‘wants attention.’

15. Mukesh

Mukesh Kumar

Accused by: Tess Joseph

The name of the popular Kerala actor and CPI-M MLA Mukesh has also come up after the #MeToo movement spread its roots in India. A woman named Tess Joseph has accused the actor-MLA of sexual harassment.

16. Varun Grover

varun grover

Accused by: Harnidh Kaur

A popular comedian and screenwriter, Varun Grover, has also faced allegations of harassment. The writer, however, firmly denies all such allegations.

17. Suhel Seth

suhel seth

Accused by:

  • Mandakini Gahlot (journalist)
  • Natashja Rathore (film director & entrepreneur)
  • Ira Trivedi (author)
  • Two Anonymous Women

At least 5 women have accused the 55- year old filmmaker, Suhel Seth, of sexual harassment. One of the women was a minor at the time of the horrific incident. Moreover, two among them have specifically leveled allegations of sexual assault against him. Author, Ira Trivedi, also shared her #MeToo story and accused Seth of sexual assault and harassment.

18. Raghu Dixit

Raghu Dixit

Accused by: An Anonymous Singer

Singer Raghu Dixit has been accused by an anonymous woman of sexual harassment. Chinmayi Sripaada, famous for the song ‘Titli’ of Chennai Express, however, shared the details.

19. Tanmay Bhat

tanmay bhat

Accused by: An Anonymous woman

Stand-up comedian and founder of AIB Tanmay Bhat was accused of sexual harassment by a 22-year old woman. Following the allegations, the AIB removed the founder from the organization.

20. Rohit Roy

Rohit Roy

Accused by: An Anonymous Journalist

An anonymous journalist has shared her ordeal of harassment whereby actor, Rohit Roy tried to kiss her forcibly when she was only 16 years only.

21. Subhash Kapoor

Subhash kapoor

Accused by: Geetika Tyagi (actress)

Geetika Tyagi, an actress, had accused film director, Subhash Kapoor, of molesting her in 2014. The matter, however, is still in court. The matter came into the limelight after the actor, Aamir Khan and his wife, Kiran Rao, released a joint statement that they will be ‘stepping away’ from a movie project because of allegations of sexual harassment against a crew member.

22. Vairamuthu

vairamuthu

Accused by:

  • Chinmayi Sripaada (singer)
  • Other Anonymous Women

The Chennai Express’ song ‘Titli’ singer, Chinmayi Sripaada has opened up and shared her #MeToo moment and accused the senior lyricist Vairamuthu of harassment. Moreover, multiple women have accused Vairamuthu of sexual harassment but have chosen to remain anonymous.

23. Luv Ranjan

luv ranjan

Accused by: An Anonymous Actress

Luv Ranjan, the director of the movies ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ and ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’, has been accused of harassment by an actress, who gave auditions for the lead in ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama.’ The actress, who chose to remain anonymous, mentioned that Ranjan asked her to strip while he was carrying out the auditions for the lead roles. She also stated that Luv asked her some lewd questions; which made her extremely uncomfortable.

24. Vinod Dua

Vinod Dua

Accused by: Nishtha Jain (filmmaker)

Padma Shri awardee and journalist, Vinod Dua, has been accused by Nishtha Jain, a filmmaker, of sexual harassment. Jain recalls her experience and mentioned that Dua told lewd jokes to her and even stalked and groped her.

25. Sham Kaushal

Sham Kaushal

Accused by: Nameeta Prakash

Veteran action-director and Vicky Kaushal’s father, Sham Kaushal, has been accused of sexual harassment by Nameeta Prakash, an assistant director. Prakash shared that Kaushal Sr urged her to join him in his room, after the wrap, for a drink. She also said that the director even showed a pornographic video to her.

26. Rahul Johri

Rahul-Johri

Accused by: An Anonymous Woman

Rahul Johri, BCCI CEO, has been accused by an anonymous woman of sexual harassment. Apparently, Johri wanted to take undue advantage of the victim on the grounds of offering her a job.

27. Ashish Patil

Ashish patil yrf

Accused by: An Anonymous Actress

YashRaj Film’s Talent and Business Head, Ashish Patil, has been accused of exploiting former aspiring model and actress sexually. Reportedly, Patil took her out for a drive and also tried to kiss the actress.

28. Jatin Das

Jatin-Das

Accused by:

  • Nisha Bora (entrepreneur)
  • Anushree Majumdar (journalist)

Nandita Das‘ father, Jatin Das, has been accused of harassment by two women. Nisha Bora, an entrepreneur, alleges that Jatin Das groped her and even tried to kiss her forcefully in 2004. Anushree Majumdar, a journalist with The Indian Express, has opened up about her encounter with the painter and sculptor, who is also a Padma Bhushan awardee.

29. Mukesh Chhabra

Mukesh Chabbra

Accused by: Multiple Women

Casting director, Mukesh Chabbra, has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Four women have come forward to share their #MeToo moment and revealed that they were harassed by the casting director during auditions.

30. Ere Gowda

ere gowda

Accused by: An Anonymous Woman

Kannada film director and screenwriter Ere Gowda has been accused of sexual assault by an anonymous woman. A friend of the woman shared the details of the horrific incident on Facebook. The woman also said that Ere was attracted to her in a sexual way and even touched her inappropriately.

31. Rajkumar Hirani

Rajkumar Hirani profile

Accused by: An Anonymous Woman Assistant

Renowned filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani has also ended up in the list of people accused of sexual assault. An assistant working with him during the shoot of Sanju allegedly accused Hirani of sexual abuse post-production of the movie. Hirani, reportedly, assaulted the woman assistant at his home office.