Cinematographer Pratik Shah accused of inappropriate behaviour; Homebound producers respond with statement | Hindi Movie News
Cinematographer Pratik Shah, known for his recent collaborations with Neeraj Ghaywan (Homebound- starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor) and Vikramaditya Motwane (Jubilee, CTRL), has found himself at the centre of serious allegations this week. Filmmaker Abhinav Singh took to social media on Thursday evening to publicly accuse Shah of inappropriate conduct, calling him “highly manipulative” and “emotionally abusive.” Singh’s post also referenced accounts from several women, hinting at a pattern of unsettling behaviour. The timing of the accusations — just days after Shah’s return from the Cannes Film Festival, where Homebound was showcased — has left many in the industry rattled. In the hours following the disclosure, Shah deactivated his Instagram account, maintaining radio silence amid mounting public scrutiny. This isn’t the first time Shah’s name has surfaced in such a context. A report from The Hollywood Reporter India revealed that nearly four years ago, a young cinematographer had allegedly approached a senior member of the Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective (IWCC) with a complaint against Shah. The incident, which reportedly involved him soliciting an inappropriate photograph.. In response, Dharma Productions, the studio behind Homebound, issued a formal statement , they stated , “At Dharma Productions we have a zero tolerance policy against inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment towards any individual working with us in any capacity, and we treat sexual harrsement cases very seriously.Mr. Pratik Shah was a freenlancer on the project Homebound and was working on it for a limited period. His engagement with us has been completed. During this limited period our internal committee for POSH didn’t receive any complaints against him from any cast or crew on our film ‘Homebound’. Abhinav Singh, known for his short films Sita and Yatri Kripya Dhyan De, said he felt compelled to speak after hearing testimonies from multiple women. As Shah continues to remain absent from social media and public discourse, the episode serves as yet another reminder of the film industry’s long-overdue reckoning with the conduct of those operating behind the scenes.
