Abuse of power is not confined to one gender and it is not always sexual in nature, filmmaker Hansal Mehta said on Saturday, claiming that even some women in positions of authority inflict harm on their subordinates.
“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 scaring. Just as violating,” Mehta, known for films like Kaminey and Shahid, wrote on X.
Mehta’s reaction comes hours after cinematographer Pratik Shah, best known for his work in Jubilee, CTRL and Homebound, was accused of abuse by a filmmaker.
‘Predatory behaviour’ by individuals, irrespective of gender, must be investigated, and should be called out if found guilty, Mehta said on Saturday.
“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,” he said.
The filmmaker, who is popularly known for projects like Scoop and The Buckingham Murders, added that some workplaces shroud toxicity in the name of ‘passion’ or ‘genius.’
“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,” Mehta signed off.
On Friday, Independent filmmaker Abhinav Singh shared a cautionary note for his followers, referring to Pratik as “highly manipulative” and “emotionally abusive”. In his first Instagram story, Abhinav urged his female friends to be cautious of the cinematographer and invited them to contact him via direct message for further information.
Within hours, in a subsequent post, Singh wrote, “The number of women who’ve reached out to me is honestly frightening. I feel like I’m having a Margot Robbie moment from Bombshell. I will not be silenced,” he wrote.
Since the allegations surfaced on social media, Pratik Shah appears to have deactivated his Instagram account. A search for his profile now leads to a blank page. He is also yet to respond to media questions regarding the controversy.
