#MeToo hits Housefull 4, director Sajid Khan offers to step down post allegations

Sajid Khan has issued a statement saying he is stepping down as the director of Housefull 4. Khan is one of the high profile personalities from the Hindi film industry named in the #MeToo movement by three women. 

“In the wake of the allegations against me and the pressure being put on my family, my producer and the stars of the film Housefull 4. I must take the moral responsibility of stepping down from my directorial post, till the time I can allay the allegations and prove my truth. I request my friends in the media to kindly not pass judgment till the truth is out,” Khan said in a tweet. 

However, as per a source, producer Sajid Nadiadwala had no option but ask Khan to step down. “Given the nature of the serious allegations, it was impossible for Khan to continue as the director. He distributors left it upon Nadiadwala to decide Khan's fate. Left with no option, Nadiadwala asked him to step down. While most of the film has been shot, the final portion is to be shot in Mumbai,” the source said.

Akshay Kumar, one of the actors of Housefull 4, had earlier posted a tweet stating that he would not work with any 'proven offender' and has asked the producers of the film to halt the shoot till the matter is investigated. 

Khan was under pressure from all corners, including his producer and the film’s stars. Housefull 4 boasts of a stellar cast including Bobby Deol, Riteish Deshmukh, Kriti Sanon, Kriti Kharbanda.

Saloni Chopra, former assistant director to Khan had posted the shocking details of Khan’s alleged harassment while she worked under him. Journalist Karishma Upadhyay and Humshakals (2014) actress Rachel White, too, accused the director of sexual misconduct. 

Housefull 4 is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and distributed by Fox Star Studios. The film was to mark Khan's comeback after four years.