Subhash Ghai accused of rape, denies allegations

Veteran filmmaker Subhash Ghai is the latest personality from the Hindi film industry to being accused of sexually harassing a woman. A Twitter user named Mahima Kukreja shared screenshots of her chat with a woman who has stated that Ghai allegedly spiked her drink, took her to a hotel in Lonavla and raped her. The woman wishes to remain anonymous. 

“He said he would be my mentor and would guide me in the film industry. I listened cos [because] 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 woman wrote. 

She further said that Ghai used to take her to music recordings where she had to sit till late. He would either drop her or she would take an auto rickshaw back home. “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,” she said, adding, “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.” 

The woman continued working with him as she had no other job. One evening, after a music session, she claims Ghai allegedly spiked her drink and took her to Lonavala. “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,” she recounted. 

According to her, this was followed with a horrorifying incident. “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 [I] 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,” she added. 

She further said that she had to continue working for with for another week in order to get paid for the entire month. “I’ve never seen him or spoken to him but once he was shooting somewhere n I was traveling with some friends along that route n we briefly spurred on the sets. The entire crew knew me. But I was so uncomfortable that I left immediately. These things never go away. But hey, it happened to me too,” she concluded. 

Ghai has categorically dismissed the allegations. “Destiny shows u good times bad times - I m deeply pained 2b [to be] gripped in this movement but thank those who know me and my respect I shower to women and their dignity in spite of our cosmetic world we live and react more through our love affection and respect. Now seen in different perspectives [sic],” said the filmmaker in a statement on Twitter.