Netflix’s decision to retain its association with filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane for the second season of Sacred Games has delighted fans while Ted Sarandos, the chief content officer of the streaming platform, told a leading daily that the final call of working with the directors was taken following the outcome of an investigation.
Kashyap and Motwane, who co-directed Sacred Games, have been making headlines due to their alleged complacency in dealing with sexual harassment accusations against their former Phantom Films partner Vikas Bahl by an employee. In the midst of this fiasco, the status of Sacred Games 2 was uncertain until Netflix announced its decision on October 23.
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Saif Ali Khan in a still from Sacred Games.[/caption]
Sacred Games 2, actually, embroiled itself in a controversy similar to that of the hit series House Of Cards which also streams on Netflix. The eighth season of House Of Cards will premiere on November 2 on Netflix without Kevin Spacey – cast in the lead role of the show, the actor was fired after allegations of sexual misconduct were levelled against him.
Of his decision, Ted Sarandos told the daily, “It (the decision) has absolutely nothing to do with House Of Cards, or anything else. There are individual cases, with separate circumstances, and different people (involved). They're all very tough calls. And we take them all very seriously. In the case of Sacred Games, there was an investigation. And we were comfortable with the outcome of going forward with Anurag and Vikram."
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File photo of Ted Sarandos.[/caption]
Furthermore, Sarandos also said that Netflix doesn’t tolerate sexual harassment at the workplace at all. "Our fundamental belief is that people should always feel safe and respected at work. The only thing we can control is those working in our offices, and on our sets. There is the same sexual-harassment training that happens in our productions anywhere in the world; has always been. The most difficult thing is the 'not knowing part'. And then you find out, and during the process of it (an allegation) coming out, you want to immediately address it,” he added.
Sacred Games starred Saif Ali Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte in the lead roles. The series was written by Varun Grover, who was also accused of harassment in the wake of the #MeToo movement - Netflix has said it will continue to work with Varun in Sacred Games 2. Varun has frequently collaborated with Phantom Films, which announced its dissolution in September after allegations resurfaced against Vikas Bahl.
