With the #MeToo
movement gaining momentum, people are washing their slates clean by asking the
named and shamed ones to step down. Rumour has it that in the wake of Anirban
Blah’s name being called out by 4 women, his main clients – Deepika Padukone,
Ranbir Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan -- are seriously contemplating to
end professional ties with him and his company –KWAN.
This morning,
mid-day published an article wherein former clients revealed instances of
facing harassment at the hands of Anirban Blah. The first survivor recalled how
she was called to the KWAN founder’s Khar residence and asked to strip. She
also states that towards the end of the meeting he pulled for a sudden hug and
tried to kiss her. The second survivor reveals that she was called to Taj Lands
End in 2014 and once she got there, she was asked to go to his suite and was
told “casting is done in bedrooms and not in public spaces”. The third woman,
an actor, was asked if she was willing to be part of an unnatural sex set-up.
Finally, the fourth victim, also an actor, terms Blah a “unique predator” who
makes you feel inferior about your looks and body.
Immediately after
the accusations came to limelight, KWAN released a statement announcing that
they have asked Anirban Blah to forthwith step aside from his duties,
activities and responsibilities at KWAN, its subsidiaries and affiliates with
immediate effect.
Anirban Blah
KWAN is largely
run by Anirban Blah and Madhu Mantena. With Mantena now in doldrums after his
professional life (Phantom) and personal life (marriage with Masaba) both
hitting the rocks, the company in question has anyway gone a bit haywire in its
functioning. It would be recalled that we had also told you that Madhu is
staying put at home and not reporting for any official work ever since Masaba
walked out on him.
We texted Deepika, Ranbir and Hrithik, but till the time of going online got no reply. We also texted Rakesh Roshan that we have heard that Hrithik is dissociating himself from Anirban Blah, but the Krrish director chose to not respond. We hear, the Roshans have been upset with Anirban for long. After financial disputes, Roshans had distanced themselves barring contractual obligations which could not be moved at that point. This has come as a flashpoint for the father-son duo.