Assistant director alleges nine-hour wait on show set; Anil Kapoor, Farah Khan apologise

MUMBAI: Assistant director and body double Geeta Tandon has alleged that she and her son were made to wait about nine hours on the set of the television show “India’s Top One Percent” and were not kept properly informed. The show’s host, Anil Kapoor, and filmmaker Farah Khan apologised in response to her post.

According to Geeta Tandon, she was invited as a guest along with her son, but there was no payment for appearing. In an Instagram post, she wrote that she agreed in the hope that it would bring her recognition. She said she specially called her son back from Goa.

She said that when she reached the set at 12:30pm, she was told her segment would be filmed in a few hours. However, she was kept sitting in a tent all day. When she asked repeatedly, she was only told that the team would get back to her.

Geeta Tandon said that when she questioned the production team, production manager Jaideep told her that she could leave if she wished, but not without signing. She and her son left the set at 9:15pm.

She made it clear that she did not know how much Anil Kapoor, Farah Khan or the production company, Banijay Asia, knew about the situation. She said the time and dignity of those who come without payment are just as important, and that respect should not depend on fame.

In reply, Anil Kapoor wrote that he was saddened to hear this. As a host, he said, he wanted every participant to feel welcome and respected. He said he takes the feedback seriously.

Farah Khan wrote that she did not know Geeta Tandon was on the set, as she was busy shooting another episode in the evening. She said that otherwise she would have seated her in her vanity van, and Anil Kapoor would have done the same. Geeta Tandon thanked both of them.