Keerthy Suresh’s Akka: Work Completed, No Credit?

For many years, Bollywood often dealt with controversies by allowing public attention to fade before moving forward. However, YRF Entertainment’s reported decision to remove cinematographer Pratik Shah’s name from the credits of its upcoming series Akka suggests a changing approach within the entertainment industry.

The production house has confirmed that Pratik Shah will not receive on-screen credit for the project despite completing his contractual responsibilities. The decision has drawn significant attention because Akka is one of the company’s most anticipated streaming releases, featuring Keerthy Suresh, Radhika Apte and Tanvi Azmi in key roles.

According to the studio, Shah had been associated with the project since the beginning of production and recently completed patchwork filming in Mumbai. The company also stated that neither the production team nor its internal POSH committee received any complaints against him from cast or crew members during the making of the series.

Despite that clarification, YRF Entertainment chose to exclude his name from the final credits. The move has sparked debate about how production houses are responding to public allegations and reputational concerns in the current entertainment landscape.

Allegations against Pratik Shah gained wider attention last year after filmmaker Abhinav Singh publicly accused him of manipulative and emotionally abusive behaviour. The controversy also involved statements and testimonies from multiple women, leading to increased scrutiny within industry circles.

Reports have also referred to an earlier incident in which Shah was allegedly questioned after a young cinematographer approached a senior member of the Indian Women Cinematographers’ Collective with a complaint. According to reports, Shah had apologised following that episode.

The cinematographer’s name was also reportedly linked to discussions surrounding the casting and crew decisions for the upcoming Sourav Ganguly biopic. Following the controversy, reports suggested that he was no longer associated with the project.

Industry reports further claimed that concerns were raised by some crew members when Shah returned to Mumbai for patchwork filming related to Akka. These reports remain based on anonymous accounts and have not been independently verified.

By removing Shah’s name while acknowledging that he completed his professional obligations, YRF Entertainment appears to have adopted a middle-ground approach. The decision reflects the complex challenges entertainment companies face while balancing contractual commitments, workplace concerns and public perception in the post #MeToo era.