Following allegations of sexual misconduct against cinematographer Pratik Shah, Dharma Productions has released an official statement addressing the situation. The allegations surfaced after filmmaker Abhinav Singh shared a warning on Instagram, advising his female friends to be cautious around Shah, describing him as "highly manipulative and emotionally abusive." Singh's post prompted numerous women to share their experiences, with some describing Shah as a "predator."
Pratik Shah is known for his work on projects such as Neeraj Ghaywan's "Homebound," which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as Vikramaditya Motwane's "Jubilee" and "CTRL." The accusations against him include claims of sending "flirtatious" and "creepy" messages, and in one instance, allegedly asking for a nude picture from a young cinematographer seeking work.
In response to the allegations, Dharma Productions stated that they have a "zero tolerance policy against inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment towards any individual working with us in any capacity, and we treat sexual harassment cases very seriously." The production house clarified that Shah was a freelancer on "Homebound" for a limited period, and his engagement with them has been completed. They further added that their internal committee for Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) did not receive any complaints against him from the cast or crew during his time on the project.
The allegations against Shah have sparked a broader conversation about the treatment of women in the film industry. Singh's revelations have reportedly encouraged others to come forward with their experiences, shedding light on issues of emotional abuse and manipulation.
Adding to the controversy, filmmaker-writer Srishti Riya Jain posted screenshots on her Instagram stories, alleging that Shah has been "on the prowl since 4 years." She highlighted discussions on Reddit where users accused Shah of "sliding into every girl's DMs." One Reddit user described Shah as a "total sleazeball," while another shared an experience of receiving a friend request from him followed by a message stating it was sent by mistake.
Following the surfacing of these allegations, Pratik Shah has deleted his Instagram account and has not yet responded to the accusations. The Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective (IWCC) had received a complaint against Shah four years ago, involving him allegedly soliciting an inappropriate photograph. He apologized at the time, and the matter was seemingly closed with a warning.
