The Producers Guild of India called out the Indian media on Friday, for their “relentless attacks” on the Hindi film industry following the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, via an open letter. 

“The tragic death of a promising young star has been used by some as a tool to defame and slander the film industry and its members,” the guild said in the letter posted on social media.

It accused the media for “peddling” what it called as ‘clickbait journalism’ by trying to paint Bollywood as a den of drug abuse and criminal activities.

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The 136-member guild which includes big names like Amitabh Bachchan Aamir Khan, Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan and others issued the formal statement saying that they were subjected to intense trolling following the media’s coverage.

“These are difficult times for our country and the world, so rather than venting our fears and frustrations on each other with vile and vicious trolling… it is more important than ever to come together instead of tearing each other apart”, the statement said.

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“We do not negate the personal experiences of anyone from the industry, and undoubtedly many of those entering the business and seeking to establish themselves have faced numerous hardships, struggles and disappointments in the course of building a career here,” said the group of filmmakers, adding that this was no different from challenges faced by a new entrant in “any field they are not born into,” be it politics, law, business, medicine or the media”, it added.

“However, a concerted effort has been made to single out the film industry as one that specifically inhibits and prohibits new talent from the outside from thriving. This cannot be further from the truth,” said the statement.

Earlier, actors including Taapsee Pannu and Vidya Balan took a dig at the media for their coverage of actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been accused of abetting to Rajput’s June 14 suicide.