After Dhurandhar Designer Saini S Johray, YRF Cinematographer Pratik Shah’s Name Dropped From Akka Following Misconduct Allegations

YRF Entertainment has officially decided to remove cinematographer Pratik Shah’s credit from its upcoming streaming series Akka, months after multiple women accused him of inappropriate behaviour and sexual misconduct. The decision comes amid renewed scrutiny within the entertainment industry over accountability and rehabilitation, especially following the recent controversy involving Dhurandhar costume designer Saini S Johray. As per a report in THR India, YRF took the decision to strip Shah of his credit from the upcoming series after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour and sexual misconduct by multiple women last June. Starring Keerthy Suresh, Radhika Apte, and Tanvi Azmi, Akka is backed by YRF Entertainment, the streaming arm of Yash Raj Films.

In a statement issued to the publication, a YRF spokesperson confirmed that Shah’s name would not appear at all in the final credits of the series. A YRF spokesperson stated that Pratik Shah had been associated with Akka since the beginning of production and had fulfilled all pending obligations as per his contractual commitments. The spokesperson went on to clarify that neither the production team nor the company’s internal POSH committee had received any complaints against him from the cast or crew during that period.

However, considering the controversy surrounding Shah, the studio decided not to credit him in the series. The report added that over the past week, several crew members associated with the production reportedly expressed concern over Shah’s return to the set, one of whom speaking anonymously to the publication, questioned whether the industry was moving too quickly toward reintegration. The allegations against Shah first surfaced publicly last year after filmmaker Abhinav Singh accused him of being “highly manipulative” and “emotionally abusive,” citing testimonies from multiple women.

Earlier reports further stated that following the backlash, Shah was also dropped from the upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic. Separate reports had additionally revealed that Shah had faced complaints years earlier when a young cinematographer allegedly approached a senior member of the Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective (IWCC), accusing him of soliciting a nude photograph. Sources close to the collective claimed Shah had apologised at the time. The news comes hours after it was revealed that a formal complaint was submitted against Dhurandhar production designer Saini S Johray to B62 Studios in late 2025 and his name has, subsequently been stripped from the credits of the film.

The studio, founded by filmmaker Aditya Dhar and producer Lokesh Dhar, reportedly launched an internal investigation soon after the complaint surfaced. The six-month investigation reportedly concluded around March-April 2026, with the POSH committee finding Johray guilty on two charges - sexual molestation and tampering with evidence. Sources claim the committee later informed the complainant about its findings. Get the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News and Gossips Also Find Upcoming Movies, Latest Movies and Web Series, Visit Times Now for Live Coverage.