Nawazuddin’s film’s release postponed indefinitely

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s career seems to be in jeopardy after he was called out by actress and ex-girlfriend, Niharika Singh, in her #MeToo post. Talking about an encounter with the actor, Niharika wrote, “I tried to push him away but he wouldn’t let go. After a little coercion, I finally gave in. I wasn’t sure what to make of this relationship,” adding that the actor told her that he’d always wanted a ‘Miss India or an actress wife’.

Phantom Films, who are themselves embroiled in #MeToo allegations made against director Vikas Bahl, has indefinitely postponed the release of the latest Nawaz starrer, Ghoomketu, which was to hit theatres on November 16.

However, this might not be all for there are chances that the second season of Netflix’s Sacred Games may now be dropped as well.

Two other crewmembers of the series, writer Varun Grover and Vikas Bahl, whose now-dissolved parent company Phantom Films is a co-producer of Sacred Games, have already been called out by women for sexual misconduct.

Having effectively defended Grover’s inclusion in the second season of Sacred Games, Netflix may find it impossible to defend Nawaz’s presence in the series. Sources close to the project say Netflix is likely to drop Nawaz from the second season of Sacred Games, though the series won’t be cancelled.

Actress Kubbra Sait, who is part of the cast, has come forward in defence of Nawaz. The actress took to her Twitter and wrote, “A relationship gone sour, isn’t #MeToo someone needs to recognize the toxic difference before we go picking sides. I stand by #NawazuddinSiddiqui or #Nowaz as a man. (sic)”

The actor himself has not yet responded to the allegations. In an earlier conversation, however, he had told me, “I’ve made mistakes in my life. Everyone has. That doesn’t make me guilty of any crime. If a relationship works or doesn’t work, one person cannot be blamed for it. There are two people involved.”