Indian filmmaker cancels Delhi shoot over concern for female crew’s safety

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra says shooting in the Indian capital can be "frightening"

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has cancelled the Delhi schedule of his upcoming film Aur Devdas, saying it was unsafe for female members of his film crew to shoot in the Indian capital, NDTV reported on Monday.

"I love Delhi but shooting in the city's outskirts can be frightening. I was worried about the safety of my female crew members. I am responsible for the safety of my crew and when my line producer said he couldn't guarantee their safety, I decided to move the unit," NDTV quoted him as saying.

The crew is now believed to have returned to Mumbai. Parts of the film have been shot in Uttar Pradesh.

Aur Devdas stars Aditi Rao Hydari and Richa Chadda. Sudhir Mishra is best-known for his films Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and Yeh Saali Zindagi.

 

Dilli,kya haal bana rakha hai?Kuch karte kyu nahi?@moviesndtv Sudhir Mishra Cancels Delhi Shoot, Unsafe 4 Women Crew http://t.co/YRTmQlGOIG

— Villainiya (@DushtaStree) February 23, 2015

 

Sharam karo delhi... "@moviesndtv: Sudhir Mishra Cancels Shoot in Delhi, Says Its Unsafe For Women in Film Crew http://t.co/HpTJHhOl1J"

— shwetabh mathur (@shwetabh2) February 23, 2015

 

What a Shame "@tunkuv: Indian filmmaker Sudhir Mishra Cancels Shoot in Delhi, Says Its Unsafe For Women in Film Crew http://t.co/oCWc3FZxRp"

— Amlan Dutta (@orphean_warbler) February 23, 2015

 

Earlier in January, Indian police said the number of rapes reported in New Delhi increased by nearly a third in 2014, highlighting the alarming levels of sexual violence against women in the Indian capital.

At an annual briefing with reporters, Delhi Police Commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi had revealed that a total of 2,069 rape cases were reported in New Delhi alone in the 12 months leading up to December 15, 2014 against 1,571 reported the previous year, an increase of 31.6%.

Read: Delhi rapes increase by one third in 2014

The city sealed its reputation as India’s “rape capital” two years ago when a medical student died after being gang-raped on a moving bus, prompting mass protests and triggering a series of policing and legal reforms.

The figures were released the same day that an Uber taxi driver accused of raping a female passenger in Delhi made his second appearance in court.

Read: Indian woman alleges rape by Uber cab driver in New Delhi

But the police commissioner insisted the new figures did not necessarily indicate that the city was becoming more dangerous for women but rather highlighted a growing willingness of victims to come forward.

“More cases are being reported now as women feel more confident about approaching us,” he had told reporters, while adding that more still needed to be done to change attitudes and increase sensitivity about sex crimes.

“Both society and police’s mindset needs to change for crimes (against women) to be reported and registered,” he had said.

Last year, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had told parliament that 25,000 rape cases were registered across India in the first 11 months of the 2014, calling the figure a “national shame”.

In 2013, 33,707 rape cases were registered, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, with just 27 per cent resulting in a conviction.