#MeToo movement: Pyaar Ka Punchnama director Luv Ranjan issues apology

Mumbai: Director Luv Ranjan Friday denied all allegations of sexual harassment against him, though he tendered an apology in case his actions hurt anyone. 

"I apologise to whoever I have caused hurt, whoever I have not made feel comfortable enough. I apologise for not being able to communicate my intent. I apologise for not being able to make someone feel that I am the man that I have aspired to be and I believe I am," Ranjan said in a statement issued here. 

In an interview with a daily, an anonymous actor had said when she was called for an audition for Pyaar Ka Punchnama, she was asked to strip down to her inner wear because Ranjan wanted to see how she would look in a bikini scene and he asked personal details about her love life. 

Though she got the role as things did not improve, she decided not to be a part of the film.

In a statement, Ranjan said it has probably been the longest day of his life.

"Since the time I have read the allegations, I have been wanting to react to them. I have been wanting to shout out loud that everyone has gone mad, I have been wanting to scream that I am not this man, I have been wanting to clear my name," he added. 

Ranjan said his friends and family have shown great support and that has made him indebted to them for life. 

"I am very aware of the fact I am the man who made Pyaar Ka Punchnama' and it becomes very easy for someone who doesn't know me personally to believe that I am guilty. Am I guilty? I have been wanting to scream out loud that I am not.

"I have never misbehaved with a woman, never touched a woman who isn't in love with me and I with her, I haven't sexted, flirted, molested or harassed a woman. I haven't," he said.

Actor Nushrat Bharucha also tweeted in support of the director in the form of an open letter. 

 

This is my story. I stand by Luv sir. pic.twitter.com/lqNBAjrQgt

— Nushrat Bharucha (@NushratBharucha)

 

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