Filmmaker Shakeel Noorani Arrested in Mahabaleshwar Over Rape Allegations
Mumbai Police have arrested 73-year-old Bollywood filmmaker Shakeel Noorani after a 33-year-old aspiring actor accused him of raping, threatening, and poisoning her over a period of four years. The police traced and apprehended Noorani from his farmhouse in the Mahabaleshwar hill station on Saturday, August 8, 2026, after searching several locations, including his son's residence at Lokhandwala in Andheri, Mumbai.
According to police officials, the victim lodged a First Information Report against the filmmaker 40 days ago. Following the registration of the complaint, Noorani went into hiding to evade arrest. Investigators initially searched his son's property in the Lokhandwala area of Andheri but were unable to trace him there. Police eventually tracked him down to his Mahabaleshwar property, located more than 200 kilometres from Mumbai, using technical inputs.
In her complaint to the police, the 33-year-old woman alleged that Noorani invited her to his residence in the Malvani area of Mumbai under the pretext of discussing a script for an upcoming film project. She stated that he spiked her drink, rendering her unconscious, and sexually assaulted her.
The victim further claimed that upon regaining consciousness, Noorani showed her an intimate video recorded on his mobile phone. He reportedly threatened to circulate the video publicly if she reported the incident to the police or informed her family. The complainant alleged that Noorani subsequently used this video to repeatedly threaten and sexually assault her over the last four years.
The complaint also details that the filmmaker administered contraceptive pills to her following the assaults and gave her poison, which ultimately caused a miscarriage.
After being apprehended in Mahabaleshwar on August 8, Noorani was brought back to Mumbai and placed under formal arrest. Police booked the director under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 64(2)(m) for rape, Section 123 for causing hurt by means of poison, Section 88 for causing a miscarriage, and Section 351(2) for criminal intimidation.
Following his arrest, Noorani was produced before a local court in Mumbai. The court remanded him to police custody until August 12, 2026. Noorani is known in the film industry for directing Bollywood movies such as the 1999 film "Bade Dilwala," starring Suniel Shetty, and the 2000 film "Joru Ka Ghulam," starring Govinda.
