On 15 September 2024, National Award-winning choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, also known as Jani Master, was booked for sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman he had worked with. The woman claimed that Jani Master assaulted her during outdoor shoots and also attacked her at her home, where he allegedly pressured her to convert to Islam and marry, according to the police FIR.
In response to her complaint, the Raidurga police filed a zero FIR and subsequently transferred the case to the Narsingi police station on September 15th night, as the woman resides in that area, police officials reported on September 16th, 2024.
This case is part of a broader pattern of sexual harassment and exploitation allegations surfacing across various film industries. The Malayalam film industry, still grappling with accusations against prominent stars following the Justice Hema Committee’s recent report, reflects a growing trend of #MeToo incidents. There is increasing demand for systemic reforms and strict actions across the board.
Shaik Jani Basha, who is also affiliated with the Jana Sena party, has choreographed for several hit Telugu films, including Allu Arjun’s ‘Ala Vaikunthapuramulo’ and ‘Pushpa,’ as well as Tamil and Hindi movies. His notable works include the choreography for ‘Kaavaalaa’ from ‘Jailer’, ‘Ranjithame’ from ‘Varisu’, and ‘Arabic Kuthu’ from ‘Beast’. He earned the National Award for Best Choreography for the song ‘Megam Karukkatha’ from the Tamil film ‘Thiruchitrambalam’, starring Dhanush and Nithya Menen.
Following the allegations by the woman, the Jana Sena party, founded by actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, swiftly distanced itself from Jani Master. In an official statement, the party announced that Jani Master has been instructed to refrain from participating in any of its activities. The decision was made in light of the ongoing legal case against him and is effective immediately.
The FIR dated 15 September 2024 reads, “In 2019 victim joined as Jani master’s team as assistant choreographer. Whenever she went out of Hyderabad for shoot, her mother did not travel with her as there were no tickets stay and all so, they got a call from Mumbai project for which she along with Jani master and other 2 male assistants had to go Mumbai. During their stay at Mumbai hotel, Jani master sexually assaulted the victim forcefully and he threatened her not to inform to anyone, otherwise will be fired from the work, and she wouldn’t be able to work in the industry anymore, and out of his fear, she had to stay silent, then he continuously harassed her multiple times in every shoot.”
Shaik Jani Basha allegedly sought sexual favors from the victim, and when his advances were rejected, she reportedly endured a physical assault, “He used to ask for sexual favors in the shooting vanity van as she entered the vanity, he removed his pants and if she refused , he used to abuse her physically and harassed her in shoot in front of everyone by touching her inappropriately. Once she entered into a vanity he asked for sex and on refusal, he held her hair and crushed her head onto the mirror. Later he starts to go to her home late at nights ransack her home and destroyed scooty and he forces her to come outside but she never agreed to all this.”
The complaint also levelled allegation against Jani Master and his wife that they threatened and assaulted the victim, pressuring her to convert to their religion and marry saying “he pressures her to convert to religion and marry him. After few of this when the victim woman worked individually, he along with is wife went to her home and forcefully made to open the door, went inside and started questioning her about religion and Jani master’s wife slapped her multiple times. Jani master does not allow her to work individually on another projects as opportunity came. Shaik Jani Basha use to to go to victim place and started threatening her by sending everyone outside he pressured her to go with him and marry him right at the moment and he threatened her she wouldn’t be allowed in the industry.”
(With Inputs From DTNext)
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