Was DOP Pratik Shah kicked out of Sourav Ganguly biopic amid sexual misconduct allegations? Here's what we know

Cinematographer Pratik Shah has found himself at the center of controversy following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women. Amid the growing backlash, reports now claim he has been removed from the much-anticipated Sourav Ganguly biopic. Here’s what we know about the situation and its impact on the project.

According to a report in Hollywood Reporter, Pratik was actively involved in the film’s recce and had recently returned from London when the allegations against him surfaced. Following this, the makers decided to drop him from the project and are now in search of a new cinematographer before production begins.

The Sourav Ganguly biopic will reportedly be directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, who had earlier collaborated with Pratik Shah on CTRL and the web series Jubilee. The film will feature Rajkummar Rao in the lead role, portraying the former Indian cricket captain.

The allegations against Pratik Shah first surfaced on social media after filmmaker Abhinav Singh, known for his work in short films, accused him of being “highly manipulative” and “emotionally abusive” in an Instagram post. While Singh initially refrained from naming Shah, he warned his female followers to be cautious around a certain cinematographer, which later led to Shah being identified.

In a follow-up post, Abhinav Singh revealed that he had received numerous messages from women sharing their own troubling experiences. It was after reading these accounts that he decided to publicly name Pratik Shah.

Pratik Shah also served as the cinematographer for Dharma Productions’ upcoming film Homebound. Following the emergence of allegations against him, Dharma issued an official statement clarifying that no formal complaints were made against Shah during the film’s production.

Homebound, which made history as the only Indian film featured in this year’s Cannes Film Festival under the prestigious Un Certain Regard section, has garnered widespread international acclaim. Produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, the film received a standing ovation at its Cannes premiere. The ensemble cast includes Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa.