Bollywood speaks: Shiney is NOT GUILTY!
Actors and filmmakers who have worked with Shiney Ahuja give him a clean chit
Bollywood is shell-shocked by the Shiney Ahuja maid episode. There is widespread disbelief that the actor could have shamed the industry in such a manner. They wonder how the nice guy Shiney could have resorted to such a heinous act. His co-stars, directors and producers react...
Arshad Warsi feels that the government is being tough because he is an actor.
'Murderers, terrorist n corrupt politicians r walking free n Shiney
Ahuja gets 7yrs... Judiciary should stop targeting Actors so blatantly.
I am NOT saying he's right but don't forget that Kassab is still enjoying
our hospitality...Do u know the no. of rapes that happen in our country
on a daily basis by influential n connected ppl... Those cases r not
even registered. My point is all criminals should be punished equally,
its not fair to make an example of an actor only because it makes
news,' he tweeted.
Soha Ali Khan who worked with Shiney in Khoya Khoya Chand and the
unreleased Accident expressed shock on being told about the verdict.
"I am shocked. I can't even begin to imagine what he and his family
must be going through. I don't know the actual facts. So I can only
pray for them to have inner strength. I wish them well."
Pritish Nandy:
"The Shiney I know is very different I read about these
days. It saddens me to see such a gifted young life wasted behind
bars particularly when the alleged victim has withdrawn all charges.
The Kasliwal boy got away scot free on the same heinous charge on
the same day that Shiney got 7 years RI. The price you pay for being
famous I guess. Sad."
Anurag Basu:
I'm in a state of shocked disbelief. This has got to be conspiracy to malign him. Shiney has done two of his best films with me. We've bonded over a long period of time. Never has there been even a hint of bad behaviour from him. I wouldn't have tolerated it. I remember once long ago a spotboy had behaved badly with a lady on my sets, I had fired him immediately. One has to be very careful about these things. It's not fair to try Shiney on television. Let the law decide. I'll believe it only if Shiney himself tells me. He has worked with some of the most beautiful heroines. No one has ever had any grievance against him. I feel this is a trap to malign him.
Chitrangada Singh:
I worked with him in two films. It's very shocking and unfortunate. Though I didn't know him personally, I felt he was a nice guy on the sets. He kept a bit aloof. Quiet and ambitious. He got along with people just fine. I hope the investigations are fair. And that someone doesn't get punished for being a celebrity.
Mukesh Bhatt:
I'm appalled by the way the electronic media has already labelled Shiney a rapist. You can't do this to a man who has a family, career and a bright future. Punish him by all means, if he's guilty. But let the law decide that. How do we know what really happened? Anyone can say anything about someone in the light.
Sandhya
Mridul felt that the verdict was unfair. She wrote: 'what
do u guys feel about the shiney verdict? I personally feel its too
harsh .. and only hope its not because he's an actor.. God let justice
prevail..feel awful for the family.. Really dont care about the loss
to indian cinema nonsense..just care that justice be done.'
Celina Jaitly was in a state of shock after hearing the verdict.
She said, "It's shocking. I don't know if his lawyer gets to re-appeal.
My heart reaches out to his family. What they must be going through.
Many rapists and criminals roam free. I feel Shiney paid for being
a celebrity."
Sudhir Mishra:
As I was shooting, I woke up late on Sunday to confusing stories about Shiney. What can I say? The Shiney that I know and the Shiney that I hear about now are two different entities. Though he has been a little upset with me for six months because I was working with other actors, we're very close. Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi was not just the film that launched him but it was also a turning point in my career. It bonded us for a lifetime. There were so many women on the sets and they never had any complaints about Shiney's behaviour. In fact, Shiney did a film with my assistant Ruchi Narain called Kal. He was always a thorough gentleman. I am sure there's some misunderstanding here.
CineBlitz: Sorry I miss the joke. What's so funny? Being raped or being accused of rape?
Inside this issue there’s an interview with Shiney Ahuja, taken a couple of days before he was arrested. We did toss around with it a bit, wondering if we should pull out the pages. But finally we decided to go with it. We’d like to believe Shiney is innocent until proven otherwise. Especially for his wife and child’s sake, we hope he is.
His wife Anu had kept herself away from the public eye for so many years because she wanted her kid to have a normal upbringing. It is sad that she had to be introduced to the world in such a fashion, the very normalcy she wished to protect, exploding in her face.
There are some smses floating around the place making jokes about this incident. Some newspapers even printed those jokes. I miss the mirth. What’s so funny? Being raped or being accused of rape?
We love the theory of Crime and Punishment. We love taking on the high stool and playing moral umpires. We draw strict lines between the victim and the victimiser, and also keep the right to decide with ourselves. It is not because Shiney’s a celebrity that I am hoping what’s being reported about him is untrue; every time I read or hear of rape I pray to God that it’s not true. Every time I read or hear of rape my stomach churns with unbearable sadness and dread.