India’s own MeToo movement continues to explode as this reached the door of famous Bollywood filmmaker Subhash Ghai on Thursday. This was after writer Mahima Kukreja shared several screenshots of her private Twitter conversation with an unknown woman, whos aid she had worked with Ghai as his junior when the latter drugged and raped her.
Even though the woman has requested to hide identity saying that this was to prevent the adverse emotional impact on her parents and child, a Twitter blue tick could be seen in her conversation. This illustrates that she is a famous personality. Mahima said that the woman in question was a ‘very credible media/lit personality.’
The woman told Mahima that she said that she was allegedly drugged and raped while working with Ghai as his junior.
She wrote, “He said he would be my mentor and would guide me in the film industry. I listened cos I had no Godfather in the film industry and no friends. I was new to Mumbai. But I was hungry to learn and to prove to my parents that being a director was my true calling,” the accuser wrote.
“In the beginning he would take me to music recordings and I’d have to sit there till very late at night with other male members. No one did anything in front of him. When recordings finished I took an auto home or he would drop me. He slowly started putting his hand on my thigh, giving me a big hug saying I did good that day. Then he’d call me to script sessions at his small apartment In Lokhandwala.
“This was where he said he’d do script sessions with other actresses. When I went there though there was no one and he was alone In his two bedroom place. This was not the house he stayed with his wife. This was he said his thinking pad. Instead of script session he started talking about how he was so misunderstood in the industry and only I was the one who loved him. He pretended to weep, and put his head on my lap. Then when he was getting up he kissed me forcefully. I was shocked and left that day.”
She said that one evening after a music session ‘it became late again’ and Ghai decided to have a drink.
“He used to love whiskey. His driver Babu used to have a ready stash in the car. No one used to check. He gave me a drink as well it was spiked. After that I remember getting into his car and I thought he was dropping me home. But he made Babu drive to Lonavala. I was in and out of consciousness but I remember clearly and I swear on my child that I asked him where are we going and please take me home.
“He took me to Fariyas hotel. He said he went there regularly to write. They always had a suite available for him. I was wobbly but he held me n took me to the suite. He took off my jeans and he mounted me. I was trying to scream but he put his hand over my mouth. I was also not very lucid bcos of the drug in my drink. So I cried and passed out. Next morning remember he had ordered some toast and was having breakfast when I woke up. The sofas were red and musty. The sunlight streamed in from the windows to my right. I vomited.”
The anonymous woman said that Ghai dropped her home but she did not turn up to work a week after that. She was then informed by Ghai’s office that she would have forfeit her full month of pay if she did not join the office. She said this prompted her to report to work but she resigned a week later.
She ended her conversation that the episode had left a scar saying that ‘these things never go away.’ She added that she was trying to heal.
TW: drugging and raping. About Shubash Ghai. Told personally by the woman who faced the trauma. She’s also a very credible media/lit personality. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/QpmGfy1s0V
— Mahima Kukreja ??✊? (@AGirlOfHerWords) October 11, 2018
Ghai has, however, denied the allegation saying it had become a fashion to ‘malign anyone known.’ Indian Express quoted a statement from Ghai, “As I hear some allegation made against me in the air from section of media, I state hereby to the best of my truth.
“It’s very sad that it’s becoming a fashion to malign anyone known, bringing some stories from past without any truth or half-truth. I deny strictly and firmly all false allegation like these. I have always respected every woman in my life and at work place whatsoever. We live with dignity and respect other’s dignity always.”