Archive · 10 Aug 2026
Bollywood Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani Arrested Over Rape, Blackmail Claims
A movie director named Shakeel Noorani was arrested by police in Mumbai, India.
He is 73 years old and made movies like Joru Ka Ghulam and Bade Dilwala.
A 33-year-old actress said she met him at an awards show in 2016.
She said he later invited her to his home to discuss a movie script and gave her a drink that made her pass out.
When she woke up, she says he showed her a video on his phone and threatened to share it with her family or the police if she spoke up.
She says he harmed her many times after that, gave her pills, and poisoned her, which caused her to lose a baby.
The director's lawyer says the actress is not telling the truth and nothing has been proven in court.
A judge decided the director must stay in police custody until August 12 while police investigate.
Police are also looking for the video she talked about.
Bollywood filmmaker Shakeel Noorani, 73, was arrested on August 8 after a 33-year-old aspiring actress accused him of rape, repeated sexual assault and blackmail.
He evaded arrest for about 40 days after an FIR was lodged; police searched his son's home in Lokhandwala, Andheri, before tracing him to his Mahabaleshwar farmhouse using technical inputs.
The complainant alleged he spiked her drink at his Malvani residence, recorded an intimate video and threatened to circulate it if she approached police or told her family.
She also alleged he sexually assaulted her repeatedly, gave her contraceptive pills and poisoned her, causing a miscarriage; he was booked under BNS Sections 64(2)(M), 123, 351(2) and 88.
His lawyer said the allegations are unproven and Noorani was falsely implicated; the Borivali Holiday Court remanded him to police custody until August 12.
- Who
- Shakeel Noorani, 73-year-old Bollywood filmmaker, and the 33-year-old aspiring actress who lodged the complaint
- What
- Noorani was arrested and remanded to police custody until August 12 over allegations of rape, repeated sexual assault, blackmail via an intimate video and causing a miscarriage
- When
- Arrested on August 8, about 40 days after the FIR was registered (booked July 10); alleged incidents reportedly occurred between 2016 and 2026
- Where
- His Malvani residence in Mumbai; his farmhouse in the Medha locality of Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, over 200 km from Mumbai; and the Borivali Holiday Court
- Why
- The complainant alleged Noorani drugged her, threatened to leak an intimate video, sexually assaulted her repeatedly and poisoned her, causing a miscarriage
Complainant's Account
Defense's Response
Allegations of assault and blackmail
Complainant's Account
The actress alleged Noorani spiked her drink, recorded an intimate video, used it to threaten and blackmail her, and sexually assaulted her repeatedly while giving her contraceptive pills.
Defense's Response
Noorani's lawyer Vikas Singh Goar claimed the filmmaker was falsely implicated, saying the allegations are yet to be established before a court.
Custody and investigation
Complainant's Account
Police sought custody to recover and examine the purported video and to check whether offences occurred at other locations; the court granted remand until August 12.
Defense's Response
The defense maintained that Noorani is presumed innocent unless proven guilty and that the investigation is still underway.
- Accused
- Shakeel Noorani, 73, director of Joru Ka Ghulam (2000) and Bade Dilwala (1999)
- Complainant
- 33-year-old aspiring actress
- Arresting authority
- Malvani Police (Mumbai Police), with assistance from the Medha police
- Date of arrest
- August 8, after evading arrest since an FIR was registered about 40 days earlier
- Place of arrest
- Farmhouse in the Medha locality, Mahabaleshwar, Satara district, over 200 km from Mumbai
- Legal provisions
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 64(2)(M) (rape), 123 (hurt by poison), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 88 (causing miscarriage)
- Court and custody
- Borivali Holiday Court remanded him to police custody until August 12
- Alleged incidents
- Occurred between 2016 and 2026, starting after a meeting at a 2016 awards event in Lokhandwala; assaults allegedly spanned the last four years
Sources
'Joru Ka Ghulam' director held after actor alleges rape
Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani held after aspiring actor alleges rape
Director Shakeel Noorani, 73, ARRESTED over alleged rape of 33 year old actress; She claims he drugged her, threatened to LEAK video
Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani arrested over rape, poisoning allegations by aspiring actress - Telegraph India
Director Shakeel Noorani, 73, Arrested Over Alleged Rape, Sexual Assault Of 33-Year-Old Actress; Claims He Drugged & Threatened Her With Video
'Joru Ka Ghulam' director held after aspiring actor alleges rape
Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani arrested over rape, threat allegations by aspiring actor
