Bengali filmmaker Arindam Sil, recently suspended by the Directors’ Association of Eastern India (DAEI) following a sexual harassment complaint by an actor, has denied the accusations and described the incident as unintentional. Sil, a prominent figure in Tollywood, asserts that any actions construed as misbehavior were not deliberate and occurred during routine filming in front of witnesses.
This suspension marks the first major action taken by the DAEI in response to a #MeToo complaint within the Bengali film industry, following similar movements in other regions, including Kerala.
In an interview with NDTV, Sil stated, “I am unsure how to react, but I can firmly say that I have always acted with a clear conscience. The alleged incident took place openly during a discussion about a scene, with several people present. Most directors engage in similar discussions.”
Sil explained that although the incident occurred within a room during a shoot, there were multiple technicians and crew members present. He maintained that any discomfort felt by the actor was unintentional on his part. “I am a professional with years of experience in the industry. My approach to filmmaking is always methodical and professional. If my actions have unintentionally hurt the actor, I apologize. Everything discussed was not recorded or filmed,” he added.
The DAEI cited Sil’s apology letter to the women’s commission as evidence in their decision to suspend him.
Regarding future steps, Sil commented, “I’m not sure what’s next. We’ll see.”
The actor who filed the complaint with the West Bengal Commission for Women expressed confidence in the commission’s process, questioning the need for physicality to explain a scene. “I trust the commission fully and will present further details as required,” she stated.
Sil is renowned for his detective films, including ‘Har Har Byomkesh’, ‘Mitin Mashi’, and the Shabor series.
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