Cinematographer Pratik Shah has publicly apologized for past misconduct, expressing deep remorse a year after multiple women accused him of inappropriate behavior. He admitted to serious mistakes, attributing them to clouded judgment and insecurity, and stated he has been in therapy.
Key Points
Pratik Shah publicly apologized for past misconduct, admitting serious mistakes.
His apology comes a year after over 20 women alleged inappropriate behavior.
The controversy led to his removal from projects like the Sourav Ganguly biopic.
Dharma Productions clarified his freelance role and zero-tolerance policy.
Pratik Shah’s Public Apology & Regret
Pratik Shah has spoken publicly for the first time since multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and inappropriate behaviour against him surfaced last year. In a statement, the cinematographer apologised for his actions, admitted that he made serious mistakes, and said he has spent the past year in therapy and rehabilitation while working towards becoming a better person.
He added, “Looking back, I recognise that I allowed the increasing attention and growth of my career to cloud my judgement, leading to actions that were self-centered and wrong. I operated out of insecurity and a misguided yearning for validation, and I regret that I did not stop to consider the power I wielded as a person of privilege and influence.”
Allegations’ Impact on Career & Projects
The allegations quickly gained traction across the industry. The Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective (IWCC) had also flagged Shah after a junior cinematographer reportedly accused him of making inappropriate advances.
The controversy soon began affecting his professional commitments. Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan noticeably left Pratik’s name out of promotional posts for Homebound, sparking discussion online. He was also dropped from the upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic starring Rajkummar Rao, which is directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and produced by Luv Ranjan.
Industry Reacts: Dharma Productions’ Stance
Responding to the controversy at the time, Homebound producers Dharma Productions clarified that Shah had only been associated with the film as a freelancer for a short duration. The production house also said that its Internal Committee under the POSH policy had not received any complaints against him during his time on the project, while reaffirming its strict stand against workplace harassment.
“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 didn’t receive any complaints against him from any cast or crew on our film Homebound,” the statement had read.
Shah’s public apology marks a significant moment, acknowledging the impact of his actions. The industry’s response and career changes highlight the ongoing demand for accountability regarding workplace conduct in entertainment.
