January 24, 2011 : Filmmakers in India have become very cautious these days to meet the new aspiring actors at their homes. This fear has a good reason behind to support the directors’ stand. The examples of directors Onir and Madhur Bhandarkar have made others also conscious about the fact.
Newcomer Yuvraaj Parashar accused Onir of molesting him. The director refused to offer a role in his film. Everyone is aware of Madhur’s case years back. Now, the experienced filmmakers are suggesting others to avoid meeting the new actors at home.
Renowned filmmakers like Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Rakesh Roshan maintain this golden rule strictly. Madhur has now installed cameras to record all meetings at his office. Noted filmmaker Rituparno Ghosh says that earlier such accusations used to come for heterosexual directors but now it has crossed this barrier too. The director admits experience such awkward situation in his career too so advises others to conduct such meetings only at office.
Rajkumar Gupta says such accusations are really scary and only solution is to remain cautious and to meet such actors at a coffee shot or at office.
Filmmaker Jagmohan Mundra says that he always keeps a male and female assistant while going for such meeting.
Manish Gupta says that he meets only those actors, who are referred by some known person. He avoids calls from struggling actresses and dancers, who keep mailing their photos in bikinis to appease him.
Vipul Shah advises others to avoid meeting newcomers alone. Rahul Dholakia adds that filmmakers should be extremely cautious at almost every stage.
