Bollywood shocked by Shiney Ahuja's rape charges, stand by him

Agrees Ahuja's former publicist Dale Bhagwagar. "From last (Sunday) evening, there has been widespread media reaction and speculation about him. I understand that television is much about sensationalism, but at the same time, I feel that the channels need to restrain themselves a bit in such matters, before jumping to conclusions or tarnishing Shiney's image. Our constitution says, a man is innocent until proven guilty. I guess, we just need to give this a little more time, until there is clarity about what really happened," Bhagwagar said.

"I've known Shiney for almost four years now. He is a good human being and I will do all that is possible to help him," he added.

"I am saddened and shocked by the news. If it is said that the girl was raped, then justice should be done. But I have worked with Shiney in two movies and have had a decent working relationship with him.There's nothing wild about him.That's why this has come has a shocker," said Chitrangda Singh, Bollywood actress and Ahuja's co-star in Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi.

"It's shocking! I can't believe it. We don't know for sure what transpired between Shiney and the girl and we really can't say what the truth us. But if it really happened it's sad," said Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty who had worked with Ahuja in Life in a Metro.

Agrees actress Kangna Ranaut. "I cannot associate the Shiney I know with the sick monster a rapist is," the actress who has featured in films like Gangster, Woh Lamhe and Life in a Metro with Ahuja, said.

Bollywood's funnyman Vinay Pathak, who had co-starred with Ahuja in Khoya Khoya Chand, said though he did not know the actor personally, he "was shocked to know this" and feels that Ahuja could have been framed.