YRF Entertainment Removes Cinematographer's Credit Amid Misconduct Allegations
YRF Entertainment's Decision on Pratik Shah
YRF Entertainment has officially decided to omit cinematographer Pratik Shah's name from the credits of its forthcoming streaming series, Akka. This decision follows multiple allegations of inappropriate conduct and sexual misconduct against him. The move reflects a growing demand for accountability within the entertainment sector, particularly in light of recent controversies involving other industry figures.
According to a report from THR India, YRF made this choice after Shah faced accusations from several women last June. The series, which features actors Keerthy Suresh, Radhika Apte, and Tanvi Azmi, is produced by YRF Entertainment, the streaming division of Yash Raj Films.
A spokesperson for YRF confirmed that Shah's name would be entirely absent from the series' final credits. They noted that Shah had been involved with Akka since its inception and had met all contractual obligations. However, due to the surrounding controversy, the studio opted to exclude him from the credits.
Reports indicate that in recent days, several crew members expressed unease regarding Shah's potential return to the set, with one anonymous source questioning whether the industry was rushing back to reintegrate individuals with such allegations.
The allegations against Shah initially emerged last year when filmmaker Abhinav Singh accused him of being 'highly manipulative' and 'emotionally abusive,' supported by testimonies from various women. Following the backlash, Shah was also removed from the upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic.
Additionally, it has been reported that Shah faced complaints in the past, including an incident where a young cinematographer approached a senior member of the Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective (IWCC), alleging that he solicited a nude photograph. Sources indicate that Shah had apologized at that time.
This news follows the revelation that a formal complaint was lodged against production designer Saini S Johray, leading to his name being removed from the credits of a film. An internal investigation by B62 Studios, which was established by filmmaker Aditya Dhar and producer Lokesh Dhar, concluded that Johray was guilty of sexual molestation and tampering with evidence.