Entertainment
Former students Percy Shroff and Jimmy Mistry has alleged years of sexual abuse at the hands of the choreographer.
Updated : May 08, 2015, 05:41 PM IST
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Bollywood choreographer Shiamak Davar has been accused of sexual abuse by his two former dance students Percy Shroff and Jimmy Mistry. Shroff and Mistry of North Vancouver, Canada, allege that they were subjected to years of sexual abuse by Shiamak. Both Shroff and Mistry have filed separate lawsuits against Shiamak in the British Columbia Supreme Court.
Davar is India's best known choreographer having worked both in Hollywood and Bollywood. CBC reports that Davar has denied the allegation, declaring them untrue. In a written response to the lawsuits filed against him, Davar writes that the allegations are aimed at ruining his "character, reputation and affiliated organisations”.
According to Scroll, Mistry and Shroff joined Shiamak Davar’s Institute of the Performing Arts at the age of 16 and 17 respectively. They soon became part of the core group at the dance company.
In his lawsuit, Mistry alleges that over a period of several months Davar began a grooming process to manipulate him to sexual submission. Mistry's lawsuit says that after shows and rehearsals, Shiamak would invite a small group of dancers to his house to watch movies in his bedroom. He would then put on a movie, close the door and lie on his bed wearing only his underwear, asking the boys to stroke his body.
Mistry said he looked up to Shiamak as his guru but the choreographer abused his position and tried to control Mistry's life.
Shroff alleges Shiamak made several sexual advances including attempting to sexually assault him when he was 17. Shroff says he has filed the lawsuit in an effort to protect his son and prevent any interaction with Shiamak.
Mistry and Shroff also say that they were initiated into a sect called the VRRP Spiritual Learning group. The sect follows the teachings of Khorsheed Bhavnagari, who claims that her sons who died in 1980 communicated with her.
Shiamak has said that he is not the leader of the VRRP but its 'custodian'. He has also denied acting as personal guru to Mistry and Shroff.
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