Actor-producer Nayanthara and her husband, director Vignesh Shivan, are facing social media backlash for their collaboration with choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, popularly known as Jani Master. Jani was arrested and granted bail in October 2024 for alleged sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Vignesh had recently announced that Jani Master has been onboarded for his upcoming film, Love Insurance Kompany. On July 1, the choreographer confirmed this through an Instagram post. "Candid and crazy with the dearest #VigneshShivan sir on the sets of #LoveInsuranceKompany. It's always a joy working with you for the care, respect, and trust you shower on me, sir. Can't wait to show the magic we created to all of them," Jani Master wrote.
Vignesh Shivan re-shared the post, writing, "Sweet Master Ji. Team LIK - loves you and your vibe a lot.” This triggered huge social media flak. Nayanthara, who is one of the producers of the film, was also criticised for collaborating with Jani Master.
Several social media users called the couple out for enabling the choreographer, and many said this was unexpected from a “self-made woman” like Nayanthara. “We as a people seem to love ‘talented’ offenders and will keep promoting them and keeping them in positions of power, which the offenders use to harangue the women more—'See nothing will happen to me’,” wrote singer Chinmayi Sripada, on social media platform X.
The allegations against Jani Master came up in September 2024, when a 21-year-old woman choreographer accused him of harassment and sexual assault over the six years that she worked with him. According to police, the survivor alleged that Jani Master sexually assaulted her in 2020, when she was 17 years old, during a work trip to Mumbai. She also alleged that he continued the sexual harassment and threatened her not to disclose this to anyone.
The complainant told police that she came in contact with the choreographer in 2017 and became an assistant to him in 2019.
The Cyberabad police arrested Jani Master on September 19 last year, and a court in Hyderabad sent him to judicial custody. In October, the Telangana High Court granted him bail.
Jani Master had won the National Film Award that year for his choreography in the song "Megham karukkatha" from the film Thiruchitrambalam. After the court order, the National Film Awards Cell, under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, had revoked the award and withdrawn the invitation extended to the choreographer for the function.