Anurag, Vikramaditya trying to malign my image: Vikas Bahl in reply to IFTDA notice

Queen (2014) director Vikas Bahl was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Thereafter, his former partners at the now defunct Phantom Films, Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, also condemned Bahl and admitted that they had recieved complaints against Bahl while the production house was functioning, but failed to take any corrective action.

In the wake of the serious allegations made against him, the filmmaker was sent a show cause notice by the Indian Film & Directors’ Association (IFTDA). Bahl is said to have responded to the notice, stating that despite the allegations made against him, he hasn’t received a legal notice from anyone yet. 

“I deny all the alleged sexual harassment charges levelled against me and as stated in your said notice. These alleged charges are not only false, erroneous, malicious, motivated but have no factual basis. Further, you may also note that till date neither has any criminal complaint been filed against me in respect of the alleged sexual harassment charges nor have I been called upon by any investigation agency for investigation with respect to the same," a report by the Press Trust of India, a news agency, quoted. 

“The allegations levelled against me are merely anonymous and hearsay. Thus, I am presumed to be innocent till proven guilty,” Bahl added. 

The director, who was asked to step down from Super 30, starring Hrithik Roshan, has also condemned Kashyap and Motwane for trying to "malign my image".

“My partners Mr Anurag Kashyap and Mr Vikramaditya Motwane have published defamatory tweets/articles/statements against me with an intent to settle personal scores, exact vendetta, and due to professional jealousy and with the sole intent to defame me, malign my image and destroy my career and hence I request your good office not to rely upon any statement so made by them," Bhal wrote in his statement. 

Apart from a former Phantom Films employee, actresses Kangana Ranaut and Nayani Dixit, too, had slammed Bahl for his indecent conduct during the shoot of Queen.