Anurag Kashyap’s ex-wife and actor Kalki Koechlin came out in his support on Monday after the filmmaker was accused by actor Payal Ghosh of sexual harassment recently. Kalki shared a statement on social media, saying that Kashyap has defended the integrity of women in their personal as well as professional spaces.
The statement, posted by her on social media, reads, “Dear Anurag, don’t let this social media circus get to you, you have fought for the freedom of women in your scripts, you’ve defended their integrity in your professional space as well as in your personal life. I have been witness to it, in the personal and professional space you have always seen me as your equal, you have stood up for my integrity even after our divorce, and you have supported me when I felt unsafe in a work environment even before we got together.”
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“This strange time where everyone gets to abuse one another and make false claims without any repercussions is a dangerous and repulsive one. It is destroying families, friends and countries. But there is a place of dignity that exists beyond this virtual blood bath, a place of paying attention to the needs of those around you, a place of being kind even when no one is looking, and I know you are very familiar with that place,” the statement further says.
Kalki and Anurag were married to each other from 2011 to 2015.
In a tweet tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Payal Ghosh alleged that Kashyap had sexually harassed her. “@anuragkashyap72 has forced himself on me and extremely badly. @PMOIndia @narendramodi ji, kindly take action and let the country see the demon behind this creative guy. I am aware that it can harm me and my security is at risk. Pls help,” she wrote.
National Commission for Women Charperson Rekha Sharma asked Ghosh to file a detailed complaint at the NCW, so that they could look into the matter.
The ‘Masaan’ director however refuted the claims and released a legal statement on social media on Monday. “These allegations are completely false, malicious and dishonest. It is sad that a social movement as important as the #metoo movement has been co-opted by vested interests and reduced to a mere tool for character assassination,” the statement from his lawyer read.