Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani Arrested Over Assault Allegations

Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani, known for directing Hindi films such as "Bade Dil Wala" and "Joru Ka Ghulam," was arrested on August 8 in connection with allegations of rape and sexual assault made by a 33-year-old actress. The 73-year-old director was taken into custody by the Malvani Police in the early hours of the morning and was later presented before the Borivali Holiday Court, which remanded him to police custody until August 12, 2026.

The case stems from a complaint filed by the actress, who alleges that she first met Noorani at an awards event in Lokhandwala in 2016. According to her statement to police, the filmmaker approached her about a potential film project and asked her to stay in contact for work opportunities. Years later, she visited his residence in Malvani to discuss a script. The actress alleges that during this meeting, Noorani offered her a drink, after which she lost consciousness.

Upon waking, she claims to have found a video on Noorani's phone. She alleges that the filmmaker used this video to threaten and intimidate her, warning that he would circulate it if she reported the incident to the police or her family. The actress further alleges that Noorani...