Phantom Films, which was founded by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena and Vikas Bahl, is in the spotlight for sexual harassment allegations against one of its co-founders, Queen director Vikas Bahl. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, a woman employee of the company has levelled allegations of molestation against the director, who reportedly behaved inappropriately during a trip to Goa.

The report quotes one of the stakeholders revealing on condition of anonymity that Bahl was asked on March 28 to step down from his position. This fact was reportedly confirmed by several other employees as well. "We (Reliance Entertainment and Phantom Films) have taken a hard stand, based on what we have heard and investigated," the stakeholder said.

The source added, "There are not one, two or three but multiple victims. I was in the middle of a film shoot when I came to know about the first incident and I had to stop my shoot and come to Mumbai? there is (after all) a young girl on whom an intoxicated Vikas forced himself while they were in Goa. He has behaved badly in the past as well but when this specific complaint came, we needed to act on it."

However, when the publication reached out to Bahl, he categorically denied these claims. The director, who is currently in Delhi to be with his ailing mother, said, "Nothing has happened. I am running the company. There is no complaint to HR and there is no Vishakha committee. I have heard about this particular lady you are speaking about and the Goa incident. She is not my employee."

Bahl added, "Yes, I am friends with her, we have worked together and there is a production job we have done together?but if she is feeling like this I would like to sit across a table from her and talk to her. I want to ask her if I have crossed a line, whether I have done anything to hurt her and if she feels that way I would like to apologise for it. I have known her for long. For two-and-a-half years she has never made me feel as if she is uncomfortable (around me)."

However, one of his partners told the publication that the investigation is ongoing.

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