Trigger Warning: This article contains information on sexual assault that might be triggering for some readers. 

Jani Master has been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing his 21-year-old female colleague over the years. In the latest turn of events, Pushpa choreographer’s nephew Shameer has filed a case against the female who accused Jani Master of sexual harassment. In his complaint, Shameer said that she sexually harassed him while he accompanied Jani Master to shoots in Hyderabad and Mumbai.

Moreover, as per a report in M9 News, he said that the female accuser used to harass him sexually in restrooms, lifts, and hotels. Shameer additionally requested the police to file a POCSO case against her as he is a minor. His complaint was registered, and the police investigation into the matter is underway. 

Meanwhile, Jani Master was granted conditional bail to attend the National Award ceremony. The Deccan Chronicle reported that Jani Master’s bail plea was sanctioned from October 6 to October 10. However, the National Film Awards Cell of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a public statement stating that the choreographer’s National Award for Megham Karukkatha from Thiruchitrambalam has been suspended. Following this, the Narsingi police of Cyberabad submitted a petition to the court to cancel Jani Master’s interim bail.

For the unversed, Jani Master was arrested in Goa and later remanded to judicial custody for 14 days. Police investigation revealed that he had allegedly assaulted his female colleague when she was a minor, leading to charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act. Further, he is charged under sections 376 (rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

As quoted by The Hindu, a senior cop stated, “The complainant said that Jani had sexually assaulted her multiple times during their shoots in different cities, including Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. She also claimed that he assaulted her at her residence in Narsingi several times… since the woman is a resident of Narsingi, the case has been transferred to the police there, and further investigation will be taken up.”

Disclaimer: If you or anyone you know is suffering from any kind of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, do not hesitate to seek help. Several helplines are available for the same; remember, you are not alone in the fight.

Amitabh Bachchan’s Shahenshah is celebrated as one of his iconic films! However, just before shooting was set to start, the actor encountered a serious health crisis. Director Tinnu Anand shared that the project was kept on hold for a year resulting in significant financial difficulties for him. He revealed, “I experienced one year of poverty,” resorting to ad films to stay afloat.

During a chat with Radio Nasha, Tinnu Anand, the director-producer, shared how Shahenshah nearly fell apart due to Amitabh Bachchan’s serious health issues. The actor faced a life-threatening setback after an on-set accident while filming Coolie and was later diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune condition causing muscle weakness. The diagnosis came just days before Shahenshah was set to begin shooting, forcing Big B to step away and leading to major financial troubles for the production.

The director explained that Shahenshah was canceled after substantial money had already been spent on the crew, air tickets, and other expenses. Following this, creditors began demanding repayment, leaving him in a difficult position, as settling such a large sum was unmanageable. To manage the situation, he began searching for a replacement, considering stars like Jackie Shroff and Jeetendra for Amitabh Bachchan’s role in Shahenshah.

Tinnu Anand revealed that Jackie was the first to express interest and said, “We had to make Shahenshah, and it took us a year. Jackie was the first to agree. He enjoyed the attention he was receiving about possibly replacing Amitabh Bachchan in Shahenshah. He signed three or four more films because of that buzz.” Tinnu also shared that Jeetendra hesitated, stating that he didn’t believe he could fill Amitabh’s shoes. “Jeetendra, on the other hand, said, ‘I don’t think I can fit into Amitabh’s shoes’,” he said. 

Despite considering potential replacements, Tinnu soon recognized that no one could truly capture the essence of Shahenshah like Amitabh Bachchan. As a result, the project was put on hold, leading to significant financial strain for Tinnu, who said, “I experienced one year of poverty,” and resorting to ad films to make ends meet. It was Amitabh’s brother, Ajitabh Bachchan (Bunty), who provided reassurance, promising Tinnu that once Amitabh recovered and completed two unfinished projects, he would return to Shahenshah.

Shahenshah was eventually produced and released in 1988 by Tinnu Anand, marking one of Amitabh Bachchan’s biggest blockbusters. The actor is still affectionately referred to as ‘Bollywood’s Shahenshah’. In the film, Amitabh portrayed a dual role: a corrupt cop by day and a justice-seeking vigilante by night. The cast also featured Meenakshi Seshadri, Pran, Amrish Puri, Prem Chopra, and Sharat Saxena. Notably, the story was penned by Jaya Bachchan, adding a special touch to the film’s legacy.