#MeToo Effect: MAMI Drops Rajat Kapoor & AIB’s Films After Sexual Harassment Allegations

In the wake of #MeToo movement, The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) has dropped two films -- AIB's "Chintu Ka Birthday" and Rajat Kapoor's "Kadakh" -- from the line-up of the upcoming 20th edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival

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#MeToo Effect: MAMI Drops Rajat Kapoor & AIB’s Films After Sexual Harassment Allegations

Rajat Kapoor and AIB co-founders, Tanmay Bhat and Gursimran Khamba are the latest ones to get embroiled in #MeToo movement that has brought a sudden revolution in India. And it’s indeed great to see the after effects of the movement. 

The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) has dropped two films -- AIB's "Chintu Ka Birthday" and Rajat Kapoor's "Kadakh" -- from the line-up of the upcoming 20th edition of the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in the wake of the #MeToo tide. The film festival has decided that it will not promote or showcase the work of those, who are being accused of such hideous crime. 

The Creative Director Of MAMI, Smriti Kiran, released a statement to IANS and said, "We as an Academy (MAMI) strongly support the #MeToo movement. In light of recent developments, we have decided to drop the following films from our line-up -- AIB's 'Chintu Ka Birthday' and Rajat Kapoor's 'Kadakh'. We want to use this opportunity to open up the conversation, and find solutions to harassment and sexual misconduct in the workplace. Starting with this edition of the festival, we would like to unite the community to find positive and constructive ways to deal with it.”

Yesterday, Rajat Kapoor was called out by two women for inappropriate behaviour. The actor later apologised. A journalist named Sandhya Menon, posted screen grabs of the message that she received from two women who spoke about Rajat’s misconduct.

In his apology, Rajat Kapooor wrote, “I am sorry from the bottom of my heart- and sad that I was the cause of this hurt to another human being. If there is one thing more important to me than even my work, it is to be a good human being. And I have tried to be that person. And now, I will try harder. All my life I have tried to be a decent man, to do the right thing. If however, I have slipped and through my actions or words caused pain or hurt or trauma to absolutely anybody, please accept my apology.”

On the other hand, All India Bakchod (AIB) co-founders, Tanmay Bhatt and Gursimran Khamba, landed in a full-fledged controversy after a woman accused Utsav Chakraborty -- once associated with the group – for sexual harassment on social media.



Images Source: twitter/aib,swarajaya