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

"It was like a body blow, a sense of deep shame because of the disconnect. Shiney that I interacted with was charming, decent guy who would come home and wine and dine with us. He was somebody you could take and meet the most respected people who came to your homes. I am not an entertaining man and do not generally invite people home, but Shiney is one of the few who has not only come home with his wife but who charmed my entire family. He was courteous, dignified and proper. But when it (the news of rape) comes to us via newspapers and television networks, it was nothing short of a shock," said film producer Mahesh Bhatt, whose critically and commercially successful Gangster (2006) helped Ahuja get a strong footing in Bollywood.

Bhatt has also condemned the media frenzy over the incident, saying they should restrain from pre-judging the actor as "we are just in the very first stage of trial."

"It (the trial) has not even begun. The police are still investigating and there are already voices in Bollywood saying that he was trapped. There is a counterpoint assuming that he was trapped, then who ever set out to trap him has succeeded in trapping because that's what the medical reports say," he said.

Bhatt also felt strange that though some police officers said that Ahuja vehemently claimed that they had consensual sex, they decided to go ahead and accept the maid's version i.e. she was raped. However, Bhatt said he has faith in the legal process and "if he (Ahuja) is found guilty of rape, we have to condemn him."

Related Story: Shiney Ahuja in deep trouble, medical report shows rape committed on domestic help

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.

"I am shocked. The Shiney I know and have worked with is a very down-to-earth and highly professional person. He is a very quiet person, keeps to himself and has never misbehaved with any woman. I have not been able to react because the Shiney I know can't do such a thing," said Bollywood director Anurag Basu (of Life in a Metro and Gangster fame).

"I am sure that he will get the clean chit. He is being framed. As far as I know he is not this type of person. I don't see any reason for him to commit this crime. Why will he do this to a maid? This has got to be conspiracy to malign him. I wish what I believe is true," he added.

"The Shiney Ahuja that I know cannot do such an act and I refuse to believe this story. Shiney has worked for two films of mine and I never received any complaint against him by anyone. However, the final judgment given by the court will be respected," said Bollywood director Sudhir Mishra (of Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Dharavi and Chameli fame).

"I have known him since long and after hearing this I am in shock and can't comment. All I can say is that industry will incur loss as there are many movies lined up with him. I think we should wait for the final verdict to come," said Bollywood director Vinod Pande (of Sins fame), ho gave Ahuja his first break in Bollywood.

Meanwhile, Ahuja's wife Anupam, who is married to the actor for over 10 years, said she would continue to stand by her husband and believe that he is innocent unless the law convicts him.

Ahuja, Anupam said, is being victimized as he is an "introvert and a shy man."

"He told our lawyer that he has made no statement and everything that you hear is fabricated. His father is here with me, we are all in touch with each other and are standing united in support of Shiney. He is a person with a golden heart - that's what we say about him in the family," she said.

"I am proud to be Mrs. Shiney Ahuja and I don't believe that he could have done this even for a minute. He is completely innocent. He is being framed. We will stand by him in this hour. We love him. He is a man of character, a wonderful person, a caring husband and a great father. He has worked hard to be where he is and there is definitely justice in the world. We will get justice," she added.

Ahuja's relatives have also rallied around the 36-year-old actor, saying he was a man of character and he is innocent.

However, noted criminal lawyer Majid Memon said such instances "bring disrepute to the film industry and its successful people and expose the exploitation of weak females like maids or aspiring models and actresses by certain well-placed people."

In Ahuja's case, Memon said, if there are no signs of violence or injury to suggest resistance, it could become difficult for the police to prove rape. However, "where the victim is from a weak social and economical background or there's an employer-employee angle, the tilt is always towards the victim and also it is not necessary to establish resistance if the age of the victim is below 18 or 16," he said, adding, "Shiney could be refused bail even after the investigation is complete."

Agrees Mahesh Bhatt. "Shiney is a charming, well behaved person. But if the charges are backed by the medical reports and also by the confession that he has given (to the police) then he is headed for a big, big trouble. If it is found that indeed he has committed a heinous crime like this, then it is very shameful as a rape has been committed on a helpless, 18-year-old domestic help. In that case, we must express our outrage," Bhatt said.

Ahuja was booked under Section 376 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rape, but subsequently the charges of criminal intimidation (Section 506) and wrongful confinement (Section 342) were also slapped by the police after the maid complained that Ahuja had locked the doors when he had raped her, preventing her from escaping and had also threatened to beat her up and kill her if she screamed for help.

If the 36-year-old actor is found guilty, he could be sentenced to a minimum jail term of seven years something that could not only tarnish his name but also potentially destroy his promising Bollywood career.

About Shiney Ahuja

Shiney Ahuja, 36, is the son of an army commander and modeled and featured in commercial advertisements before making a plunge in Bollywood.

Considered an outsider in Bollywood circle as he hails from Delhi, Ahuja made his acting debut with Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), which was released in 2005.

The film won Ahuja rave reviews and was rated as one of the best movies that year.

After starring in Karam (2005), alongside John Abraham and Priyanka Chopra, Ahuja grew more familiar with mainstream audiences and went on to act in movies like Sins (2005) and Zindaagi Rocks (2006).

However, it was not until Mahesh Bhatt's Gangster (2006) where Ahuja played the title role that he gained popularity and established himself as a mature actor.

Ahuja's next release in 2006 was Woh Lamhe, which was both a critical as well as commercial success. Life in a Metro (2007), which starred the actor, fared well in the box office too. In 2008, Ahuja went on to bag the Kalakar award for 'Best actor' in Khoya Khoya Chand (2007).

The same year, commercially successful movies like Bhool Bhulaiya and Hijack in which Ahuja featured, helped him cement his place in Bollywood.

The actor, which currently has five films in hand - The Migration, Har Pal, Take Two, Chalo Movie and Accident - was recently in the news for shooting an intimate scene with Soha Ali Khan for their forthcoming film Accident.