Will Super 30 continue to be super anymore?

The fate of Super 30 hangs in balance, after Hrithik Roshan tweeted that he would distance himself from the film’s co-producer and director, Vikas Bahl, if the sexual harassment allegations against the latter are proved true. One of Vikas’ former colleagues has accused him of sexually harassing her in Goa in 2015. Now, that incident has come back to haunt him with his production house, Phantom Films, shutting down and co-partners, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena going their separate ways.

Hrithik had tweeted on Monday, “It is impossible for me to work with any person if he/she is guilty of such grave misconduct… I have requested the producers of Super 30 to take stock of the apparent facts and take a harsh stand if need be. This is not to be hushed or brushed under the carpet...”

Actor Pankaj Tripathi, who is also part of Super 30, says the matter should be investigated. “What a film does, how it shapes up after the wrap up, and how the film is released is something [that] we as actors don’t control. What has happened is unfortunate,” says Pankaj, not denying the fact that a lot is at stake.

Actor Mrunal Thakur, who also features in the film, tweeted, “It takes a lot of courage to come out and speak about it. I am glad that the conversation has begun. I really hope that strict actions are taken against the culprit.”

When asked about the fate of the film, touted to be the last from Phantom Films, Kashyap says that he, along with Motwane, had disassociated themselves from Vikas over a year ago. “I have nothing to do with that film, nor Vikram. It wasn’t produced from our premises, nor any of our people worked on it,” he says.

According to trade analyst Atul Mohan, Super 30 has been embroiled in a number of controversies. First, the Kangana Ranaut-Hrithik legal battle, then mathematician Anand Kumar’s fraud case that led to the makers deciding that it won’t be promoted as a biopic, and now this.

“Hrithik’s tweet can also work in favour of the film... But, it’s tough to say if the promotions will be affected, because all this has happened recently, and we can’t predict the course of action from here on,” Mohan elaborates.

I have nothing to do with that film, nor Vikram. It wasn’t produced from our premises, nor any of our people worked on it.

ANURAG KASHYAP, DIRECTOR

PHOTOS; YOGEN SHAH AND PRODIP GUHA Vikas Bahl and (right) Hrithik Roshan