Last weekend was quite shocking as one after another startling statements and events came tumbling out. Anurag Kashyap revealed that his production house Phantom Films, run by him along with partners Madhu Mantena, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Vikas Bahl has folded. Some hours later his flimsy excuse of going separate ways was torn down by the explosive story of a female employee who was sexually harassed by Vikas; the allegations were confirmed by Anurag. Kangana who acted in Queen directed by Vikas also gave out a statement about the director’s predatory and indecent behaviour towards her.
Now, another actor from Queen, Nayani Dixit who played Kangana’s best friend in the film has opened up about the unwanted advances that Vikas subjected her to as well. In an interview given to an entertainment portal, she said, “Doing Queen was the biggest mistake of my life. Whatever the girl has accused Vikas Bahl is not at all wrong because he also tried his hand on me. I literally told him that ‘main tumhe maarungi if you do this again’. So I am sure he did the same with the girl in question as well.”
Kangana Ranaut and Nayani Dixit in Queen
She further added, “Next day, when I came on the sets, something went wrong with my hair. I didn’t get it as it’s not my area of concern. But Vikas blasted me and he behaved very weirdly with me. Now when I look back, I realized that why this behaviour. Since he did not get a chance on me, he was taking revenge.” She said that this was not the only time he tried his luck. Recounting her horrible experience of shooting for Queen she said, “They kept us in a 2-star hotel. When I said that I am not comfortable, Vikas told me that he can share his room with me. Look at his audacity!”
Nayani Dixit
She recollected another incident where Vikas allegedly made another girl uncomfortable by his overtures. She said, “We were shooting for the London Thumakda song and in the crew, there was a 21-year-old local Delhi girl who was in the costume department. Vikas flirted even with her and she was very uncomfortable and she later confided to me that why this person is always behind me. Even Kangana Ranaut was witness to this drama and even she was taken aback. She remarked, ‘Tu pagal hai kya?’”
Nayani not only shamed Vikas but even went on to malign the production team at Phantom Films. When she was asked that why did she remain silent on these horrible experiences for all these years, she said, “I did not say anything then. I was quiet at that time as firstly, I was alone. I did not know anyone neither from Phantom nor from the cast. Hence, I remained mum and decided to speak when the time is right. Now I thought that the time is right.”
Vikas Bahl
Nayani also claims that it was the chief assistant director who ghost-directed Queen but Vikas walked away with all the accolades and awards. She said, “He has zero knowledge on filmmaking. By God’s grace, we had a great team, including his chief AD. She knew her work very well. It’s all her contribution and Vikas just took the credit and the National Award. Warna jisne Queen banaya, woh Shaandaar jaisi itni buri film kaise bana sakta hai.”
Hrithik Roshan, the star of Vikas’s upcoming film Super 30 also issued a statement today where he said that he will not like to work with anyone who is accused of such grave misconduct and urged the producers of the film to take a harsh stand.
