Accused of sexual harassment by a host of women, director Sajid Khan is finding little sympathy in the film industry, too.
Actresses Esha Gupta and Bipasha Basu have already hit out at Khan. Now actress Dia Mirza, too, has slammed the filmmaker.
Speaking to India Today Television, Dia Mirza did not hesitate to characterize the director as obnoxious, sexist and ridiculous.
Dia Mirza said she was disturbed to read about the #MeToo story of assistant director Saloni Chopra.
"I was deeply disturbed," she told the television news channel. "I agree that Sajid was obnoxious, extremely sexist and ridiculous. Even for me, the details of these accounts are beyond shocking. I have personally always had a radar for such people. I have never invested in a relationship with such people even at the workplace."
While she was not surprised by the allegations against Khan, Dia Mirza said she was taken back by the gory details mentioned by Chopra. “We often brush off certain kinds of behaviour," she said. "But I wouldn't have imagined that Sajid would be capable of doing this to a woman. I completely understand the shock people are feeling right now, but it would be unfair to say that the names that are coming out are shocking."
The actress had made a special appearance in Sajid Khan's directorial debut Heyy Babyy (2007).
In her #MeToo revelation, Saloni Chopra had accused Khan of harassment over a period of time, and of regularly indulging in sexist behaviour and indecent conduct. She alleged that Khan often mocked her for her looks and once even stripped down to his pants and asked her to touch his genitals.
In the eye of a storm over these allegations, Sajid Khan was forced to step down as director of Housefull 4.