Homebound cinematographer Pratik Shah accused of abuse and inappropriate behaviour
Cinematographer Pratik Shah
On Thursday evening, filmmaker
Abhinav Singh
took to Instagram and accused cinematographer Pratik Shah of being 'highly manipulative and emotionally abusive' towards women. Pratik is best known for his work in
Vikramaditya Motwane
's Jubilee, CTRL and
Neeraj Ghaywan
's recent Cannes outing Homebound, where he was present with the film's team.
Abhinav's Instagram stories stirred up a hornet's nest. In a post, the filmmaker, who had directed the short film Yatri Kripya Dhyan De, said that multiple women reached out to him to share their testimonies, and some even posted them on their own social media handles, narrating their experiences with Pratik. The latter deactivated his Instagram account soon after.
Pratik (left) was accused of being highly manipulative and emotionally abusive towards women by filmmaker Abhinav Singh (right)
Dharma Productions, producers of Homebound, in a statement on Saturday, said, 'At Dharma Productions, we have a zero-tolerance policy against inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment towards any individual working with us in any capacity, and we treat sexual harassment cases very seriously.
Mr. Pratik Shah was a freelancer on the project Homebound and was working on it for a limited period. His engagement with us has been completed.
During this limited period, our internal committee for POSH did not receive any complaints against Shah from any cast or crew during his association on Homebound."
Filmmaker Abhinav Singh's stories on Instagram
According to THR India, a complaint was lodged against Pratik with the IWCC (The Indian Women Cinematographers' Collective) four years ago by a young cinematographer, and the Collective warned him, stressing that such behaviour is unacceptable.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Ile-de-france: Voici l'astuce pour avoir des panneaux solaires sans payer l'installation !
Programme Ecologique
Undo
Why was there no accountability despite this step? Was merely a warning enough? Why was this information not in the public domain? This has largely been the sentiment. When we investigated the matter, a source told Bombay Times, 'IWCC is a forum.
It's a collective with no legal standing. It's not an organisation. It was formed by female technicians 7-8 years ago, and the complaint made to them was anonymous. They took cognisance of it in the best way they could.
The forum tries to provide women with a safe space.'
We reached out to Vikramaditya Motwane, Neeraj Ghaywan and Pratik Shah, who hadn't responded till the time of going to press.
Hansal Mehta
On Saturday,
Hansal Mehta
shared a note on X, which read, 'Abuse thrives in silence. It festers in fear. Predatory behaviour by men in positions of power must be investigated thoroughly, and if found true, must be called out — unequivocally, and without delay.
For too long, predators have weaponised influence, privilege, and fear to silence survivors. That silence must be broken. But let's be clear — abuse of power is not confined to one gender.
Women in positions of authority, too, have inflicted harm. Abuse has many forms. It is not always sexual. Mental, emotional and psychological abuse can be just as scarring. Just as violating (sic).'
He added, 'Workspaces — especially creative ones — often cloak toxicity in the name of 'passion' or 'genius.' That must stop. No art, no film, no script is worth the cost of someone's safety or sanity. Victims need voice. They need redress. They need a system that listens — and acts. Accountability is not cancel culture. It is culture correction. We owe it to ourselves, and to those who come after us, to make our spaces safer.
Cleaner. Kinder. Call out the predators. Call out the habitual abuser. Hold them accountable. Let no power be above decency (sic).'
Check out our list of the
latest Hindi
,
English
,
Tamil
,
Telugu
,
Malayalam
, and
Kannada movies
. Don't miss our picks for the
best Hindi movies
,
best Tamil movies,
and
best Telugu films
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
'This also happened': Meghan Markle shares labour dance video to mark daughter's 4th birthday
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry dancing Meghan Markle on Wednesday released an unusual video, showing herself dancing while in labour with Lilibet, four years ago. The 43-year-old Duchess of Sussex shared the recording on Instagram to commemorate her daughter's fourth birthday. Meghan wrote alongside the video: "Four years ago today, this also happened. "Both of our children were a week past their due dates… so when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn't work - there was only one thing left to do!" The mother-of-two appeared dancing to The Drake Family's rendition of Starrkeisha's The Baby Momma Dance. Meghan performed a hip-shaking routine and executed a spin beside her hospital bed. Prince Harry made an amusing cameo wearing a grey hooded top. He moved across the space before performing a synchronised squat with Meghan. The pair appeared at ease while recording their dance routine during their wait for Lilibet's arrival. Before the the dance video, the Duchess had made another Instagram post showing her child as a newborn held by Prince Harry, after the first post showing Lilibet's latest look while hugging her whishing her happy birthday. "Happy birthday to our beautiful girl! Four years ago today she came into our lives - and each day is brighter and better because of it," she wrote. The celebration will likely occur privately at their California residence, maintaining their practice of sharing select moments of their children's milestones via social media, according to reports from The Sun. Meghan and Harry's daughter holds seventh position in the British throne succession. Her 2021 birth occurred during Queen Elizabeth II's reign, whose childhood nickname was Lilibet. This name originated when then-Princess Elizabeth couldn't pronounce her name correctly. King George V adopted Lilibet as an affectionate nickname, which became used amongst close family. Harry and Meghan are raising Lilibet and Archie in an exclusive Montecito neighbourhood.
Time of India
14 minutes ago
- Time of India
The internet's favorite AirCorg has chosen a Stanley Cup winner and fans are taking it way too seriously
Okay, so forget expert analysts for a second, the real MVP of Stanley Cup predictions is a corgi. Yep, AirCorg, the internet-famous pup with surprisingly solid sports instincts, has officially weighed in on Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. With just hours to go before puck drop, fans are already barking (pun intended) about his latest pick. And honestly? He might just be onto something. AirCorg picks his Stanley Cup Game 1 winner and fans are treating it like gospel You know things are getting serious when even the dogs are choosing sides. AirCorg, the fluffy forecaster who's gone viral on Instagram for predicting sports outcomes, made his official pick for Panthers vs. Oilers Game 1 and of course, the internet lost its mind. In the latest video via @aircorg, posted to his Instagram account, the adorable pup stood between two mini hockey nets, one repping the Florida Panthers, the other for the Edmonton Oilers, the little legend zipped around the mini rink, circling the nets a whopping seven times before finally making his decision. After all that buildup, he slid the puck straight into the Edmonton Oilers' basket, officially locking in his pick for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. AirCorg picks the Oilers' to win and fans are now convinced it's fate And just like that, AirCorg has spoken. No stats. No logic. Just vibes. And honestly? He's had a pretty good track record, which is why fans now take his picks way more seriously than they probably should. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final kicks off tonight and the pressure is real The tension is already sky-high heading into tonight's Stanley Cup Final Game 1, airing at 8 p.m. ET on TNT , Sportsnet, Sports on Max, and TVA Sports. The Florida Panthers are looking to finally claim their first-ever Stanley Cup, while the Edmonton Oilers are chasing their first title since the Wayne Gretzky era. So yeah, every edge counts even if it's coming from a corgi with an Instagram account. Fans are fully divided over AirCorg's pick because of course they are As expected, fans are already spiraling in the comments. Panthers fans are begging the corgi to change his mind. Oilers fans are celebrating. It's pure chaos, and that's what makes this annual AirCorg moment so iconic. Some are joking that AirCorg is 'more accurate than most ESPN analysts,' while others are just here for the vibes and dog content. Also read - Bill Zito says the Panthers' secret to attracting players isn't taxes, it's about getting the 'chicken' right
Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
How China's Labubu became Pop Mart's $1.8 billion plush powerhouse
Labubu, the plush toy from China's Pop Mart is a social media darling, but the toothy little monsters are far from an overnight success. Having appeared a decade ago, Labubus may have finally cemented their place in the collectible toy market for years to come. The Labubu, by artist and illustrator Kasing Lung , first appeared with pointed ears and pointy teeth, in three picture books inspired by Nordic mythology in 2015. In 2019, Lung struck a deal with Pop Mart, a company that caters to toy connoisseurs and influencers, to sell Labubu figurines. But it wasn't until Pop Mart started selling Labubu plush toys on key rings in 2023 that the toothy monsters suddenly seemed to be everywhere, including in the hands of Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and NBA star Dillon Brooks. K-pop singer Lisa of Blackpink began posting images of hers for her more than 100 million followers on Instagram and on TikTok, where Labubu pandemonium has broken out. There are 1.4 million #Labubu TikTok posts and counting, videos of fans unboxing them, showing styles inspired by them, and of course, Labubu cosplay. Fans have latched on to Labubu's mashup of play and fashion, making them accessories on handbags, backpacks and belts, or hanging them from car mirrors. Live Events "The character has evolved into a collectible and style symbol, resonating with fans who connect with its quirky aesthetic and unique backstory," Emily Brough, Popmart's head of IP licensing in the Americas, said. Labubu has been a bonanza for Pop Mart. Its revenue more than doubled in 2024 to 13.04 billion yuan ($1.81 billion), thanks in part to its elvish monster. Revenue from Pop Mart's plush toys soared more than 1,200% in 2024, nearly 22% of its overall revenue, according to the company's annual report. Aside from their ability to pique the interest of toy aficionados and fashionistas, Labubu latched on to the blind box phenomenon, where the purchaser does not know exactly which version of the plush toy they will get. And Pop Mart made sure there is a Labubu for everyone, regardless of income. Most are priced in a wide rage between $20 and $300, with certain collaborations or limited editions priced higher, according to Brough. Unlike many toys, Labubu devotees include a large number of adults. Buyers aged 18 and over drove a year-over-year increase of more than $800 million in the US toy market in 2024, according to market research firm Circana. Adult shoppers, mostly female, bought the toys for themselves. In 2025's first quarter, toy sales for those aged 18 and over rose 12% from the prior-year period. At $1.8 billion, adults also accounted for the highest spending among all age groups in the quarter. Like many retailers, Pop Mart is actively monitoring negotiations between the US and just about every one of its trading partners as prices may be impacted. The situation with China is at the forefront, with President Donald Trump saying on Friday that the country "violated" an agreement with the United States on trade talks. Right now Pop Mart, whose products are manufactured across Asia, says that it is continuously scaling production and expanding distribution across its online shop, retail stores and blind box vending machines to meet increasing demand.
