Suspended filmmaker Arindam Sil calls assault allegations 'completely accidental'
Prominent Bengali filmmaker Arindam Sil, who was recently suspended by the Directors's Association of Eastern India (DAEI) over sexual misconduct allegations, has spoken out in his defense. In an exclusive interview with Zoom, Sil claimed the incident was "completely accidental" and maintained that he has evidence to prove his innocence. "Only in this country have we this tendency that an accused is a villain, an accused is a criminal, even before any charge has been established," he stated.
Sil mentioned he was never given chance to defend himself
Sil told the portal, "I was declared guilty. I was never given the opportunity to speak to the Directors's Association of Eastern India. No one called me, and no one said that we have got this, do you have anything to say?" "What they did is they said okay we have got this sheet of paper and that is why we are suspending him till the time he clears his allegation," he emphasized.
'My face brushed against her left profile while demonstrating shot'
Sil said the incident occurred while he demonstrated a shot to the actor. He said, "The shot entailed that the actor is pulling her friend, the actress, onto his lap, and the actor is sitting on a chair, pulling her onto his lap." He added that he told the actor to turn her face and the actor would bring down his face toward her. "While trying to show this, my face brushed against her left profile. It was completely accidental."
Sil says he apologized for unintentional act
He further added, "You know that this is an industry where we are working where there is physical contact and acting all this is a part of it." Sil said that he was asked by the women's commission if he wanted to apologize. "I told the commission, 'Since she is insisting I am again reiterating that it was absolutely unintentional I will say sorry' to which they said don't use word unintentional since she has felt hurt...write sorry."
'My wife is rock solid in support of me': Sil
When asked about his family's reaction to the allegations, Sil said, "My wife is rock solid in support of me and giving incredible strength." He added, "She has seen how I work on the floor as a director, how passionate, how honest, how caring I am with my actors and actresses. She has seen me showing intimate sequences to actresses and actors." He further added, "We have enough proof, witnesses with us...We're taking legal help now."
