Rajkumar Hirani is too good a man to do something like this: Boney Kapoor on sexual assault allegations against the filmmaker

Boney Kapoor has come out in support of Rajkumar Hirani after sexual assault allegations against him. The film producer feels that the acclaimed filmmaker is ‘too good a man to do something like this.’ 

READ: 'I Can Only Hope That A Due Official Inquiry Is Conducted': Dia Mirza 'distressed' About Her 'Sanju' Director Rajkumar Hirani's Sexual Misconduct Row

"Raj Kumar Hirani is too good a man to do something like this," Boney was quoted as saying by ANI.  He added, "I don't believe this allegation. He can never do something like this." 

Rajkumar Hirani, the man behind much-loved films like ‘Munnabhai’ series and ‘3 Idiots’ and blockbusters like ‘PK’ and ‘Sanju’, has been accused of sexual harassment by a woman who was assisting him on ‘Sanju’. 

The woman in an email dated November 3, 2018 marked to Vidhu Vinod Chopra, whose banner has produced all of Hirani’s films, and others related to him, alleged that the director made a sexually suggestive remark to her and sexually assaulted her on April 9, 2018. In her email, she stated that her ‘mind, body and heart were grossly violated’ by him that night and for six months between March and September of 2018.  

In an interview she stated that she was ‘intimidated’ by Hirani, who was nearly 30 years older to her, and was forced to be polite to him despite it getting ‘unbearable’ for her as she couldn’t afford to lose her job at a time when her father was suffering from a terminal illness. She feared Hirani saying she was ‘not good’ in the industry would leave her without any work. 

Hirani has denied the allegations as ‘false, malicious and mischievous story’ spread with ‘sole intention of destroying’ his reputation. 

In a statement, he clarified, "I was completely shocked when these allegations were brought to my notice about two months back. I had suggested immediately that it is essential to take this matter to any committee or any legal body. The complainant has chosen to go to the media instead. I want to very strongly state that this is a false, malicious and mischievous story being spread with the sole intention of destroying my reputation.” 

Celebrities reacted with shock to the news. Dia Mirza, who has worked with Hirani in multiple films, was ‘deeply distressed’ by the news as she called him one of the ‘most decent human beings' she’s worked with but hoped an official inquiry is conducted for the same. 

READ: It Is Unfortunate That A Lot Of Them Are My Colleagues: Emraan Hashmi On Rajkumar Hirani Being Accused In #MeToo Movement

Hirani’s ‘3 Idiots’ actor Sharman Joshi stood up for him calling him a ‘man of immense integrity, character, honour, compassion and truthfulness’, and a person who inspired and helped him become a better person. He wrote how the situation ‘would pass’ and how it was ‘demeaning’ to ‘stand up for yourself’. 

Emraan Hashmi and Mukesh Bhatt were among the other celebrities to have expressed their shock over the allegations.