What could have been an innocent move has landed Boney Kapoor in the midst of a controversy.
A video doing the rounds featuring the filmmaker and starlet Urvashi Rautela posing for a photo op at the wedding reception of producer Jayantilal Gada's son Aksshay Gada has gone viral on social media, with netizens discussing how the filmmaker has touched the actress "inappropriately".
Presumably one of the India's 'SUPREME' newspaper and this is 'NEWS'!!??
— URVASHI RAUTELA (@UrvashiRautela) April 1, 2019
Please dont talk about GIRL POWER or WOMEN’S LIBERATION when YOU don't know how to RESPECT/HONOUR GIRLS. pic.twitter.com/QK2Xc2tuSB
The video, features Boney and Urvashi standing besides each other, sharing a laugh and chatting. As they exit, Boney is seen patting the "Grand Masti" actress on her derriere.
I felt appalled and beyond shocked this morning when i saw social media flooded with trolls of me in a video with respected @BoneyKapoor Sir.
— URVASHI RAUTELA (@UrvashiRautela) April 2, 2019
He is a true Gentleman and it makes me feel extremely unhappy and miserable because the social sites/media don't even think twice before pic.twitter.com/VIzuCeeObV
The video spread like wildfire on social media, causing a section of social media users to point out that, "this is what casual sexual assault looks like".
One social media user labelled the video "disgusting", while another wrote: "If it had been any other common man, she would have slapped him by now, but clearly not the same reaction towards such a grand producer."
The speculation led to Urvashi finally reacting to the video.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Sameer🤘🤾 (@urvashirautelafan_forever) on Apr 1, 2019 at 11:24am PDT
Sharing a snapshot of a 'news' article which talked about Boney's "inappropriate" touch in the video, she wrote on Twitter: "Presumably one of India's 'supreme' newspaper and this is 'news'? Please don't talk about girl power or women's liberation when you don't know how to respect/honour girls."
She also defended Boney's action by calling him a "true gentleman".
"I felt appalled and beyond shocked this morning when I saw social media flooded with trolls of me in a video with respected sir. It makes me feel extremely unhappy and miserable because the social sites/media don't even think twice before putting up things or destroying anyone's reputation," Urvashi tweeted on Tuesday, urging everyone to "stop trolling".
"I honestly respect sir and stand by him and his dignity," she added.