After
months
of
allegations
the
existence
of
a
'movie
mafia',
a
'drug
nexus'
and
the
Hindi
film
industry
being
an
out
and
out
discriminatory
place,
the
Producers
Guild
of
India
wrote
an
open
letter
addressing
the
slander
of
the
industry
in
the
media.
The
Guild
slammed
the
media
for
exploiting
the
death
of
Sushant
Singh
Rajput
to
boost
their
ratings,
readership
and
page
views.
The
letter
acknowledged
that
the
film
industry
is
an
imperfect
place
like
any
other,
and
stressed
on
the
need
for
a
constant
effort
to
improve
it.
However,
it
asserted
that
dismissing
the
entire
industry
as
a
terrible
place
is
not
an
accurate
representation
of
reality
at
all.
The
open
letter
received
resounding
support
from
the
Hindi
film
industry.
Kareena
Kapoor
Khan,
Dia
Mirza,
Zoya
Akhtar,
Hansal
Mehta,
Ram
Gopal
Varma,
Nimrat
Kaur,
Vikramaditya
Motwane,
Richa
Chadha,
Farhan
Akhtar,
Reema
Kagti,
Rakeysh
Omprakash
Mehra,
Nikkhil
Advani,
Riteish
Deshmukh,
Bipasha
Basu,
Abhishek
Bachchan
and
others
shared
the
open
letter
with
the
hashtag
#InSolidarity.
"The
last
few
months
have
seen
relentless
attacks
on
the
reputation
of
the
Indian
film
industry
across
all
media.
The
tragic
death
of
a
promising
young
star
has
been
used
by
some
as
a
tool
to
defame
and
slander
the
film
industry
and
its
members.
A
picture
has
been
painted
of
the
industry
as
a
terrible
place
for
outsiders
to
aspire
to;
a
place
that
treats
those
who
dare
to
enter
it
with
contempt
and
derision;
a
murky
den
of
substance
abuse
and
criminality.
This
narrative
is
salacious
enough
for
the
media
to
exploit
to
great
effect
in
order
to
boost
its
ratings,
readership
and
page
views.
But
it
is
not
the
truth,"
read
the
letter.
It
continued,
"Like
any
other
sector
there
is
no
doubt
that
the
film
industry
has
its
imperfections,
and
there
must
always
be
an
ongoing
attempt
by
any
industry
to
improve
upon
itself,
learn
and
evolve,
while
weeding
out
unsavoury
elements
or
improper
practices
that
hold
it
back.
But
to
paint
an
entire
industry
with
the
same
brush
is
a
gross
misrepresentation
of
reality."
The
letter
drew
attention
to
the
immense
and
immeasurable
contributions
of
the
film
industry
to
the
Indian
economy,
culture,
art,
entertainment,
and
support
in
times
of
crises.
Not
dismissing
the
negative
experiences
shared
by
artists,
the
letter
said,
"We
do
not
negate
the
personal
experiences
of
anyone
from
the
industry,
and
undoubtedly
many
of
those
entering
the
business
and
seeking
to
establish
themselves
have
faced
numerous
hardships,
struggles
and
disappointments
in
the
course
of
building
a
career
here."
"However,
a
concerted
effort
has
been
made
to
single
out
the
film
industry
as
one
that
specifically
inhibits
and
prohibits
new
talent
from
the
outside
from
thriving.
This
could
not
be
further
from
the
truth.
There
are
scores
of
talented
actors,
directors,
writers,
musicians,
cinematographers,
editors,
sound
designers,
production
designers,
costume
designers,
art
directors
and
numerous
other
film
professionals
across
multiple
disciplines
who
have
had
absolutely
no
connection
to
the
industry,
but
who
have
flourished
and
produced
inspiring
and
path
breaking
work,
which
has
defined
-
and
then
redefined
-
Indian
cinema,"
it
said.
Acknowledging
nepotism,
it
said
"Being
born
into
the
industry
most
definitely
affords
you
the
privilege
of
access
and
a
first
break,
but
after
that
it
is
up
to
each
individual's
talent,
hard
work
and
drive
to
propel
them
forward."
It
went
on
to
add
that
while
it
is
more
difficult
for
outsiders
to
get
their
foot
in
the
door,
it
is
not
impossible
and
the
success
stories
of
numerous
artists
rising
to
great
heights
are
testament
to
the
fact.
The
letter
concluded,
"These
are
difficult
times
for
our
country
and
the
world,
so
rather
than
venting
our
fears
and
frustrations
on
each
other
with
vile
and
vicious
trolling,
it
is
more
important
than
ever
to
come
together
instead
of
tearing
each
other
apart.
Members
of
the
industry
on
both
sides
of
this
debate,
especially
women,
have
been
subjected
to
rape
threats
and
death
threats.
This
is
unacceptable
and
must
stop
now."
It
urged
the
media
to
'stop
fanning
the
flames' and
show
'human
decency'.