The post was shared by Vignesh on his Instagram story, calling Jani a "Sweet Master Ji". "Team LIK loves you and your vibe a lot," he added.
Published Jul 03, 2025 | 5:54 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 03, 2025 | 5:54 PM
Vignesh Shivan with choreographer Jani. (Instagram)
Vignesh Shivan and Nayanthara have been at the receiving end of criticism for platforming choreographer Jani Master in their upcoming film Love Insurance Kompany.
The choreographer is out on bail in a POCSO case, for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor. The case gained momentum on 15 September 2024 when a 21-year-old woman, who worked as Jani’s assistant choreographer, filed a complaint against him. She accused him of sexually, physically, and mentally assaulting her for several years, starting in 2019.
A couple of days ago, Jani shared photos with director Vignesh from the sets of the film, with the caption, “Candid & Crazy with the dearest @wikkiofficial 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.”
Following this, the post was shared by the director on his Instagram story, calling him a “Sweet Master Ji”. “Team LIK loves you and your vibe a lot,” he added.
View this post on Instagram
The film is co produced by Nayanthara, and stars Pradeep Ranganathan and Krithi Shetty in the lead roles.
Condemning the director and actor-producer couple, many users on social media took to X, to share their disapproval.
A user wrote on X: “Nayan called herself a self-made woman who knows the struggles of female actors, urged stars to speak out, and thanked those who supported her. Yet she’s fine with her husband backing a man accused under POCSO. Why the double standards?”
Nayan called herself a self-made woman who knows the struggles of female actors, urged stars to speak out, and thanked those who supported her. Yet she’s fine with her husband backing a man accused under POCSO. Why the double standards? #Jani #VigneshShivan pic.twitter.com/Bz1sXpumvq
— Films Spicy (@Films_Spicy) July 2, 2025
Another user wrote: “There’s a reason people are losing respect for #VigneshShivan. First it was Dileep. Now it’s Jani Master.
Keep calling accused predators a “vibe” and we see exactly where you stand — not with survivors. And #Nayanthara is just… okay with it? Some “power couple.” @NayantharaU.”
Singer Chinmayi Sripada also condemned the director, and wrote on X: “Jani is out on conditional bail involving a minor’s sexual assault. 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.” It is just how we are. Sweeeeeet!”
Jani is out on conditional bail involving a minor’s sexual assault.
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.”
It is… pic.twitter.com/irXOqZp824
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) July 2, 2025
According to the FIR, the survivor first met Jani Master in 2017 during a dance reality show where he was a judge. Two years later, she was offered a job as his assistant, and the abuse allegedly began soon after.
The complainant alleged instances of sexual assault, both verbal and physical coercion. She also accused the popular choreographer of threatening her career prospects in the industry if she refused his advances.
The case took a critical turn when it was revealed that the survivor was a minor when the abuse began. This led to the inclusion of sections of the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) in the charges against Jani.
In fact, following severe backlash, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting cancelled the decision to award Jani Master, the National Film Award for Best Choreography for 2022.
National Film Awards Cell Deputy Director Indrani Bose said: “In view of the seriousness of the allegation and the matter being subjudice, the Competent Authority has decided to suspend the National Film Award of the Best Choreography for the Year 2022 to Shri Shaik Jani Basha for the film Thiruchitrambalam until further orders.”
The cell also withdrew the invitation extended to Jani to attend the National Film Award ceremony scheduled to be held in New Delhi on 8 October.
“The letter from the National Film Awards Cell dated 21.8.24 and, thereafter, on 12.9.24 to attend National Film Award function for the year 2022 had been extended to Shri Shaik Jani Basha before the allegations of crime under POCSO Act [Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act] came to light,” Bose said.
