Vikas Bahl files Rs 10 cr defamation suit against Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane
The suit alleged that Kashyap and Motwane made "defamatory, slanderous and baseless allegations" .
By ET Online and Agencies | Updated:
Agencies
MUMBAI: Filmmaker Vikas Bahl, earlier accused of sexual assault by a lady employee of Phatom filsm, has filed a defamation suit against ex partners Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. The two were Bahl's partners in the production house.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the court directed Bahl to make the woman employee a respondent to the suit and adjourned the hearing till October 19.
The 'Queen' director had also demanded interim action from the court seeking to restrain ex partners Kashyap and Motwane from making statements against him to media or through social media.
The suit, filed Tuesday, alleged that Kashyap and Motwane made "defamatory, slanderous and baseless allegations" against him due to which he has suffered irreversible damage to the reputation.
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The suit demands damages of Rs 10 crore from Kashyap and Motwane.
Justice S J Kathawalla, who heard arguments on Bahl's application for interim order, asked if the parties were open to sort out the issue amicably.
"Is there any way to end this matter? Just check if the parties are willing for this," he asked the lawyers.
Bahl was also directed by the court to make the lady employee a respondent in the case as it was necessary to hear her too. Justice Kathawalla directed Bahl, Kashyap, Motwane and the woman to appear in his chamber on Friday where the entire matter will be heard in person.
In early October, Hollywood was rocked by scandal after reports surfaced that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had allegedly sexually harassed or assaulted multiple women over decades. The film fraternity went into shock as actresses shared their stories against the film producer and former film executive.
Just days after the Weinstein bomb had dropped, there was another big name joining the list: Kevin Spacey. The 'House of Cards' actor was accused by actor Anthony Rapp of molestation. Rapp's outburst led to more than a dozen people coming forward with their own allegations against Spacey that included attempted rape.
Sharan Jagtiani, Bahl's counsel reported that the woman continued to be in touch with his client even after the alleged incident.
To this, Kashyap's counsel Venkatesh Dhond said Bahl cannot trivialise the woman's allegations on this ground, as she had to continue working with Phantom Films.
Justice Kathawalla, while adjourning the matter, noted that while the #MeToo movement was good, there should be guidelines in place so that authorities know how to handle such cases.
The judge passed no order on Bahl's plea.
Phantom Films was established in 2011 by Kashyap, Motwane, Bahl and producer Madhu Mantena.
The company's productions include "Lootera", "Hasee Toh Phasee" and the blockbuster "Queen".
Soon after Bahl was named by a former employee of Phantom Films amid the MeToo campaign, Kashyap and Motwane dissolved the production house.
The unidentified woman employee alleged that Bahl sexually assaulted her in Goa during a promotional tour for the movie "Bombay Velvet" in 2015.
During the hearing on Wednesday, the court directed Bahl to make the woman employee a respondent to the suit and adjourned the hearing till October 19.
The 'Queen' director had also demanded interim action from the court seeking to restrain ex partners Kashyap and Motwane from making statements against him to media or through social media.
The suit, filed Tuesday, alleged that Kashyap and Motwane made "defamatory, slanderous and baseless allegations" against him due to which he has suffered irreversible damage to the reputation.
The suit demands damages of Rs 10 crore from Kashyap and Motwane.
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Bahl called his former partners opportunists who allegedly created a whole campaign against him and also made him look responsible for the downfall of the production house. Justice S J Kathawalla, who heard arguments on Bahl's application for interim order, asked if the parties were open to sort out the issue amicably.
"Is there any way to end this matter? Just check if the parties are willing for this," he asked the lawyers.
Bahl was also directed by the court to make the lady employee a respondent in the case as it was necessary to hear her too. Justice Kathawalla directed Bahl, Kashyap, Motwane and the woman to appear in his chamber on Friday where the entire matter will be heard in person.
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Just days after the Weinstein bomb had dropped, there was another big name joining the list: Kevin Spacey. The 'House of Cards' actor was accused by actor Anthony Rapp of molestation. Rapp's outburst led to more than a dozen people coming forward with their own allegations against Spacey that included attempted rape.
Sharan Jagtiani, Bahl's counsel reported that the woman continued to be in touch with his client even after the alleged incident.
To this, Kashyap's counsel Venkatesh Dhond said Bahl cannot trivialise the woman's allegations on this ground, as she had to continue working with Phantom Films.
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Justice Kathawalla, while adjourning the matter, noted that while the #MeToo movement was good, there should be guidelines in place so that authorities know how to handle such cases.
The judge passed no order on Bahl's plea.
Phantom Films was established in 2011 by Kashyap, Motwane, Bahl and producer Madhu Mantena.
The company's productions include "Lootera", "Hasee Toh Phasee" and the blockbuster "Queen".
Soon after Bahl was named by a former employee of Phantom Films amid the MeToo campaign, Kashyap and Motwane dissolved the production house.
The unidentified woman employee alleged that Bahl sexually assaulted her in Goa during a promotional tour for the movie "Bombay Velvet" in 2015.
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