Vikas Bahl is out of Super 30 as the makers of the film confirmed that the director isn’t associated with the project any longer, a leading daily reports. Moreover, Vikas’ name will be dropped from the credit slate of Super 30 owing to the allegations of sexual harassment leveled against him in the wake of the MeToo movement last year. Super 30, starring Hrithik Roshan in the lead role, has been directed by Vikas.
“Vikas is not associated with the edit and post-production,” Shibasish Sarkar, Group CEO of Reliance Entertainment, told the daily. Shibashish, however, clarified that Anurag Kashyap, who is supervising the post production of Super 30 at the moment, is not replacing Vikas. “There will be no director credit for anyone. As a producer, after substantial investment of time, money and the efforts of all our technicians and talent, it is our responsibility to complete the film with the best possible resources available to us. Anurag is a partner, he has edited films of other Phantom partners in the past. He agreed to take this responsibility on Reliance’s request, and with a professional and commercial understanding. Also, it has been agreed that he will not take any credit,” he added.
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File photo of Vikas Bahl[/caption]
However, as per reports of Anurag being brought onboard on Hrithik’s request, Shibasish clarified saying, “There was no request from Hrithik on who needs to be associated to complete the film.” Refuting reports that Vikas had been paid an hefty amount as compensation for the removal of his name from the credit slate of Super 30, Shibashish said, “The question of Vikas being paid an additional fee is absolutely incorrect. The film has shaped up well and we are all excited to tell this story on screen on July 26.”
Also, Vikas has been kept in the loop as far as the decision of the makers are concerned as Shibashish said, “Vikas has been informed of every single decision. So, there is absolutely no ambiguity of our decision regarding him.”
The makers, Shibashish said, will consider adding his name to the credit slate of Super 30 if he gets an order from the court clearing his name. “Vikas is currently pursuing legal action to clear the allegations levelled against him. If he can get an order clearing his name before the film’s theatrical release, either from the court or a competent body of course, as a company, we will reconsider whether his name can be given as the director. But only if he gets an order from a competent authority or institution,” Shibashish added.
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Hrithik in a poster of Super 30[/caption]
Vikas was accused of sexual harassment by a woman, a former employee of the film collective Phantom Films, for an incident that took place in 2015 in Goa during the promotion of the banner’s movie Bombay Velvet. Phantom Films, which Vikas was a part of with business partners Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena, was dissolved in October.
The release date of Super 30 has been postponed and it will hit screens on July 26.
