Allegations against Chamak: what really happened on set that day?
On August 4, on the sets of the television project "Shoshur Barite Prothom Din',' a chaotic incident occurred when female lead Rukaiya Jahan Chamak allegedly harassed her co-artistes verbally, at a shooting house in the capital's Uttara. However, Chamak maintains that it was all a 'conspiracy' to defame her.
What really happened on the set that day?
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Among the cast were other senior actors, along with veteran actor Masum Basher. He told The Daily Star, "Most of us arrived according to our call times on set. While actors can be late for various reasons, assistant directors are asked to call the cast members to ensure their quickest arrival. The assistant directors on-set did the same with Chamak. However, she didn't receive the calls, much to our disapproval."
Director Adif Hasan further added that when Chamak arrived, no one had said anything to her, but instead started screaming at the whole shooting unit for calling her. "She was behaving quite erratically. I wanted to calm her down, but she was inconvincible. She was basically making an issue because the male lead Arosh Khan called her, but she did not respond to his call either."
Arosh arrived at the shooting house sometime after Chamak had come. "It was our second day of shooting for this project. Earlier, after our packup on day one, she even dropped me home. When I learned that she was making an issue because I called her, I told her that it was embarrassing for me. It usually takes a long time for the female lead to get ready, so I just wanted to coordinate my time with her."
According to Arosh, the initial matter was somewhat solved and they went for a shot, then after one scene was done well, the production manager used the word 'Chamatkar' (fantastic), which is when Chamak felt offended, and lost her composure. "I kept on trying to convince her that the shot was done well, that is why he used this word, but she got triggered and was continuously making an issue out of it, claiming that the production manager said it sarcastically," said Adif.
According to the director, everyone was trying to convince her, and as a senior artiste, Masum Basher had to get involved into this, as this suggestion came from both Actor's Equity and Director's Guild, when the situation was getting out of control.
Both Adif and Arosh confirmed that Chamak wanted to leave the shooting house without finishing her shots. It is then that the director told her that he cannot afford to stop the shooting because of monetary reasons, and if she can pay for the entire day's shoot, she can leave. "She told me to go to her house with her, but as I am the director, I cannot leave my unit and go," Adif added, "I told her if she can bring the amount from home, I will stop the shoot, because I have to explain it to my producer as well."
Arosh further added, "Due to Chamak's unreasonable behaviour, I told her to go home and that we will sort all of this out later. Although she wanted to leave first, she changed her mind and said that she has been insulted and that she wants to see an 'end to it'. She then began calling all the directors, producers and whomever she knew to spread lies about us."
Arosh claimed that out of nowhere, she went on to allege that the unit had held her and her driver hostage, and she called the police to the set.
Masum Basher further said, "When the cops arrived, she began alleging that we were harming her and were threatening to kill her."
Adding to it, Arosh said, "When she began making these allegations to the police, I called the driver and asked him straight in front of the head constable, if we did any such thing. However, he instantly told the truth and denied these allegations."
Masum Basher added, "We did settle things down and began shooting, but to our surprise when the cops arrived at the spot, she denied that she called the police."
"Later, she told the police that I tried to hit her, whereas she had the audacity to try and hit me. She came charging at me to attack, but Arosh stopped her."
The Daily Star reached out to S I Hanif of Uttara West Police Station, who confirmed that he visited the shooting spot. "One of my superiors (who is Chamak's relative), called me as I was on duty in Uttara sector 7 at that time, and told me to check if any dispute occurred at the shooting house," he said.
On set, he met Masum Basher, and after talking to him, he was assured that the matter was solved. "We exchanged our numbers, and Chamak did not even tell me anything that can be considered a serious complaint. When I was there, I met two representatives from the Director's Guild and one from Actor's Equity."
According to SI Hanif, the matter seemed to be resolved, and he left the premises. The police visited the set for a second time later, and checked Masum's phone after Chamak made allegations against him.
"Ultimately, Naznin Hasan Chumki from Actor's Equity came to settle the matter, and took Chamak away from the set," added Adif.
Meanwhile, Masum Basher's daughter, actor and journalist Naziba Basher took to social media demanding appropriate punishment for Chamak for the humiliation of her father and indiscipline on the shooting set.
We reached out to Chamak for her statement regarding the incident. She informed the Daily Star that rumours about her hitting a senior artiste, that are making their rounds on social media, are completely false. "I know that I have a very short temper, and I did shout that day. However, I could never hit a senior artiste, I am not like that," she claimed. The actor burst into tears while speaking, and continued, "I am not in a condition to talk, I was hospitalised and in great distress, I cannot take such false allegations made against me, particularly on social media and online portals." Chamak claimed that she reached the set on time, and Arosh came to the set after her. "Arosh was calling me before I reached the set, whereas it was not his responsibility to call me, it was the duty of an assistant director."
Chamak also added that she had worked with Arosh before, and they used to be good friends. However, she alleged that the actor had made some inappropriate approach towards her, which she objected to. According to the actor, the matter was settled after Arosh apologised to her. "I agree that the matter could have been sorted in a sober way, however, I got paranoid and lost control. At one point, Adif told me that I cannot leave until I pay him Tk 3,80,000, to make up for his loss of the shooting spot as his daily expenditure." As the demand seemed unreasonable to her, Chamak called senior producers and directors to get her out of the situation.
"I want this matter to get solved by the Actor's Equity as I am a member of the association," she concluded. At the moment, the actor is taking rest at her residence as she shared that she is mentally and physically devastated after the incident.
Naznin Hasan Chumki informed that Actor's Equity will be taking a decision after talking to everyone present at the venue that day. "I actually cannot make any comment right now, as I went there four hours after the incident occured," she told The Daily Star. "When I reached there, I saw that there were cops, and Chamak was physically and mentally devastated, so I felt it was the right decision to get her out of the situation at that moment."
The Director's Guild and Actor's Equity will come to a decision regarding the matter, on August 13.
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