Sonam Kapoor has addressed the controversy surrounding Rajkumar Hirani after the filmmaker was accused of sexual assault by a woman who worked with him in his 2018 film Sanju. While speaking to the press, Sonam said that while she supports the MeToo movement, she also “knows” Hirani “very well” and respects him.
"I am a huge supporter of the #MeToo movement and this is a very important question... This is not the right platform because our film is as important as the movement. I know Raju Hirani very well, I have known him for many years and I have huge respect for him as a filmmaker and as a man,” Sonam said at an event for her upcoming film Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, a news agency reports.
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Sonam Kapoor photographed in Mumbai[/caption]
However, Sonam added that judgement on allegations against Hirani should be “reserved” as of now and responsibility must be observed while delivering opinions on the subject. “I think we all should reserve judgement and be very responsible before we say anything more on this subject... Because we don't need to derail this movement," Sonam added.
Hirani was co-producing Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, in which Sonam has been cast in the lead role, while his name has been dropped from the credits of the film after allegations surfaced against him.
According to an article published on a leading website earlier in January, the alleged victim claimed that Hirani sexually abused her on more than one occasion over a six-month period between March and September 2018. Hirani, soon after, issued a statement and denied the allegations.
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File photo of Rajkumar Hirani[/caption]
"I always want to believe a woman but suppose by chance, if it is not true, then how bad it will be for the movement, especially if it is somebody like Raju Hirani," Sonam added.
Meanwhile, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, directed by Shelly Chopra Dhar, co-stars Anil Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao and Juhi Chawla, and will release on February 1.
