Following misconduct claims, Shefali Shah film removes cinematographer Pratik Shah
02 Jun 2025

The Hindi film industry has taken swift action against allegations of inappropriate behavior by cinematographer Pratik Shah.

According to Mid-Day, he has been dropped from Shefali Shah's upcoming film, which was set to begin production this week.

The decision was made after filmmaker Abhinav Singh accused Shah of being "emotionally abusive" and "manipulative" last week, citing testimonies from multiple women who described his behavior as predatory.

Shah's alleged history of misconduct and investigation
Past allegations

Singh's allegations were soon followed by reports that the Indian Women Cinematographers' Collective (IWCC) had investigated Shah five years ago after a young cinematographer complained about him soliciting a nude picture.

An insider told the portal that in light of these serious accusations, the team of Shefali's untitled film has decided to drop the Director of Photography.

"The makers are looking for a replacement, and the project will roll in a few days."

Shah's involvement in Sourav Ganguly biopic also on hold
Biopic impact

Shah's involvement in the Vikramaditya Motwane-directed Sourav Ganguly biopic is also reportedly on hold.

An internal inquiry has been ordered into the matter.

"After the Cannes premiere of Homebound, Pratik flew to the UK for the biopic's recce. But now, an Internal Complaints Committee [ICC] has been formed to investigate the claims against him before any decisions about his involvement are made," a source told Mid-Day.

IWCC and industry response to allegations against Shah
Industry reaction

The IWCC has taken cognizance of the allegations, asking female cinematographers to come forward with their experiences with Shah (Jubilee, CTRL).

Two women from different parts of the entertainment industry also shared their accounts of alleged misconduct by Shah, describing a pattern of initiating contact on social media platforms and sending unsolicited or soliciting inappropriate pictures and sexual voice notes.

Dharma Productions and Hansal Mehta's response to allegations
Statement issued

Dharma Productions, the producers of Homebound, issued a statement after the allegations against Shah. The statement read, "We have a zero-tolerance policy against inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment toward any individual working with us in any capacity."

Homebound was Shah's most recent high-profile work.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta also stressed the need to investigate powerful men accused of abusive behavior. He tweeted, "Abuse thrives in silence. It festers in fear."