Last week ‘Gully Boy’ fame actor Vijay Raaz was accused of molesting a female crew member of the Vidya Balan starrer film ‘Sherni’.
Raaz had been arrested by the Gondia Police, where the shoot was taking place. However, he was released later on conditional bail.
The Dhamaal Actor returned to Mumbai soon after the incident, as Sherni filmmakers, Abundantia Entertainment, temporarily suspended him from the movie. An Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) was also set up to probe the molestation allegations against Raaz.
So far, Vijay Raaz had been silent about the whole matter but he recently opened up about the accusations levelled at him, in conversation with TOI.
He commented that he was open to investigation, but the move to terminate his services from upcoming films before the probe was completed, was shocking!
He said, “Women’s safety is of prime concern. I have a 21-year-old daughter, so I understand the gravity of the situation. I am all for an investigation by the authorities. However, to ostracise me, suspend and terminate my services from my forthcoming films even before any sort of investigation, is shocking. I have no words to express. It’s a very dangerous place to be in. I have been working in the film industry for 23 years!
He further continued, elaborating on how people passed judgment without hearing the other side of the story – “Bohot mehnat se maine apna career banaya hai. Tinka tinka jodke maine apna ghar banaya hai. Anybody can sabotage anyone’s career? Kisine bol diya aur aapne maan liya that I am a harasser? People are bound to make judgements without hearing the other side of the story.
He lamented that he was pronounced guilty even before any investigation happened.
“No matter what the outcome of this case, aap pe ek thappa lag jaata hai. I have been pronounced guilty even before the investigation. My right to earn a livelihood is badly affected. Am I not the victim here? My old father who lives in Delhi, also has to face the society and so does my young daughter.”
A source informed the TOI that the ‘Lootcase’ actor had apologised to the woman in front of the entire team, when he found out that putting his hands around her shoulder and touching her hair made her uncomfortable.
Vijay Raaz went on, “I have been working with the same crew for over a year. We play cricket on set. It’s how we are with each other. Yet, when I was told she felt uncomfortable, I apologised. This was in front of the entire crew. My apology meant I respect your feelings. But it didn’t mean that I acknowledged the claims made later at the police station. Saying sorry doesn’t always mean that you are wrong. It means you respect someone’s feelings more.“
He concluded by saying, “I also have responsibilities and I need a job. Mere itney saalon ki mehnat can go down the drain if people jump to conclusions without verifying the claims. This should not be one-sided. Truth prevails but the damage is done.”
On the work front, Raaz was last seen in ‘Gulabo Sitabo’ and ‘Lootcase’. He will next be seen starring in Manoj Bajpayee-Diljit Dosanjh’s starrer ‘Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari’ and also in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ which stars Alia Bhatt in the lead.