The Telugu film industry is facing another #MeToo controversy as choreographer Jani Master, formally known as Shaik Jani Basha, has been accused of sexually assaulting his 21-year-old colleague. The woman, who is also a choreographer, filed a complaint with the Raidurgam police in Hyderabad, leading to an FIR against Jani under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape, criminal intimidation, and causing harm.
According to the woman’s complaint, Jani allegedly assaulted her multiple times during shoots across different cities like Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The assaults reportedly occurred between 2019 and 2023, with the woman claiming she remained silent due to threats of being blacklisted from the industry. The case has now been transferred to the Narsingi police for further investigation.
Senior police officials confirmed the charges, while Shikha Goel, Director General of the Women Safety Wing, advised the film fraternity to conduct an internal inquiry under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act and to register a formal case with the authorities.
This isn’t the first legal issue for Jani Master, as earlier this year, another dancer accused him of harassment. Known for working with top stars like Allu Arjun, Salman Khan, and Jr NTR, Jani Master has choreographed popular songs such as Aayi Nai from Stree 2 and Arabic Kuthu from Beast. He has yet to respond to the recent allegations.
