Richa Chadha shared this pic (courtesy therichachadha)

New Delhi:

Actress Richa Chadha has released a statement made on behalf by her lawyer after being named in a controversy that blew up over the weekend on alleged sexual harassment by filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. The statement says Ms Chadha “condemns the act of her name being unnecessarily and falsely dragged in a derogatory manner into controversies and allegations being recently raised by third parties” and that she will be taking legal action. Anurag Kashyap has been accused of sexual misconduct by actress Payal Ghosh, who told ABN Telugu that Mr Kashyap claimed Richa Chadha and others were “just a call away” – in response, Ms Ghosh said to Anurag Kashyap You have given chance to Richa Chadha, Mahie Gill, Huma Qureshi… they are so nominal looking girls. Generally directors don’t give them chance but you have done a great job. But I am not mentally prepared for this right now,” she told ABN Telugu.

Richa Chadha’s response to Payal Ghosh’s claim is this lawyer’s statement: “Our Client ‘Ms. Richa Chadha’, condemns the act of her name being unnecessarily and falsely dragged in a derogatory manner into controversies and allegations being recently raised by third parties. Though our Client believes that genuinely wronged women should get justice at all costs, there are legislations that are intended to ensure that women have an equal standing in their workplace and to ensure that they have a cordial workplace in which their dignity and self-respect is protected. No woman should misuse their liberties to harass other women with unsubstantiated or non-existent, false and baseless allegations. Our Client has initiated appropriate legal action and shall further pursue her legal rights and remedies in law as may be advised in her best interest.”

Anurag Kashyap cast Richa Chadha in her breakout role as Nagma Khatoon in his two-part crime drama Gangs Of Wasseypur in 2012. Huma Qureshi made her debut in the same project; Mahie Gill starred in Mr Kashyap’s acclaimed 2009 film Dev D.

Read Richa Chadha’s full statement here:

Anurag Kashyap has strenuously denied Payal Ghosh’s allegations and also released a lawyer’s statement: “‘My client, Anurag Kashyap, has been deeply pained by the false allegations of sexual misconduct that have recently surfaced against him. These allegations are completely false, malicious and dishonest. It is sad that a social movement as important as the #metoo movement has been co-opted by vested interests and reduced to a mere tool for character assassination. Fictitious allegations of this nature seriously undermine the movement and seek to unconscionably trade upon the pain and trauma of actual victims of sexual harassment and abuse. My client has been advised about his rights and remedies in law and intends to pursue them to the fullest extent.”

Actress Kangana Ranaut, who tweeted in support of Payal Ghosh, offensively commented on Anurag Kashyap’s failed marriages. In response, Mr Kashyap’s former partners Aarti Bajaj (divorced 2009) and Kalki Koechlin (divorced 2015), jumped to his defence. “Don’t let this social media circus get to you,” wrote Kalki while Aarti Bajaj shared: “Keep empowering women as you do.”