‘Sushant’s death is just the tip of the iceberg’: Dabangg director accuses Salman Khan & family of sabotaging his projects

Team Udayavani, Jun 16, 2020, 1:22 PM IST

Mumbai: In the backdrop of Sushant Singh Rajput’s demise and the discussions on mental health and pressures of a public image on actors in Bollywood, director Abhinav Singh Kashyap expressed fear that his death is just the tip of the iceberg just like the #metoo movement was for a much bigger malaise in Bollywood.

Kashyap, who had helmed the 2010 Salman Khan blockbuster “Dabangg” spoke about his own personal experience while accusing Salman Khan’s family of sabotaging his projects.

Taking to Facebook, the director appealed the government to launch a detailed investigation into the Sushant’s death.

“The suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput brings to the forefront a much bigger problem of what many of us have been dealing with. Exactly what might compel a person to commit suicide?? I fear his death is just the tip of the iceberg just like the #metoo movement was for a much bigger malaise in Bollywood,” wrote Kashyap.

Kashyap further writes: “The death of Sushant Singh Rajput brings under scanner the role YRF talent Management Agency might have played in pushing him towards his suicide but that is for the authorities to investigate. These people don’t make careers. They ruin your career and life. Having suffered personally for a decade, he said he can confidently say every “Talent Manager and all Talent Management Agencies of Bollywood are a potential death Trap for Artists.They are all basically white collared Dalaals and everyone is involved. They all have an unspoken code of conduct they adhere to.”

In the hard-hitting post, Kashyap said that he experienced exploitation and bullying first hand.

Going back to his “Dabangg” days, he said: “The reason I moved out of making Dabangg 2 ten years ago is because Arbaaz Khan in collusion with Sohail Khan and family was trying to take control of my career by bullying me. Arbaaz Khan sabotaged my second project with Shree Ashtavinayak Films that I was signed up with by personally calling their head Mr. Raj Mehta and threatening him with dire consequences if they made a film with me. I had to return the signing money to Shree Ashtavinayak films and moved to Viacom Pictures. They did the same thing.”

“Only this time the sabotager was Sohail Khan and he intimidated the then Viacom CEO Vikram Malhotra. My project was sabotaged and I was made to return my signing fee of Rupees 7 Crores plus interest of Ninety odd lacs. It’s only then that Reliance Entertainment came to my rescue and we forged an enduring partnership for my film Besharam,” Abhinav Singh Kashyap added.

The filmmaker further mentioned, “All my projects and creative endeavours have been sabotaged and I have been repeatedly threatened with life and rape threats given to/for the female members of my family. The sustained gaslighting and bullying destroyed my mental health and that of my family and led to my divorce and breaking up of my family in 2017.”

He says his enemies “sharp, cunning and always attack me from the back and stay Hidden. But the best part is after 10 years, I know who my enemies are. Let it be known that they are Salim Khan, Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan. There are many other small fry’s but Salman Khan family is the head of this venomous serpant. They use a clever mix of their ill-gotten money, political clout and connections with the underworld to intimidate anyone and everyone”.

“Unfortunately truth is on my side, and I am not going to give up like Sushant Singh Rajput. I refuse to cow down and will fight on till I see the end of either them or me. Enough tolerance. It’s time to fight back.

“So this is not a threat, it’s an open challenge. Sushant Singh Rajput has moved on and I hope he is happier wherever he is but I will make sure that no more innocent will kill himself over lack of work with dignity in Bollywood. I hope suffering actors and creative artists will share my post on various social media platforms as will the media and people who patronize the entertainment industry,” he concluded with #metoo #BoycottSalmanKhan.