Shiney Ahuja debuted with Sudhir Mishra with Hazaaron Khwaishen Aisi back in 2005. Both - the film and Shiney’s performance - were critically appreciated, and Shiney found his standing in the Industry. He then went on to work with Mishra in Khoya Khoya Chand with Soha Ali Khan, which got a lukewarm response from both critics and audiences. But apart from a professional relationship, Sudhir and Shiney share a close friendship. Sudhir had already planned his third film with Shiney when news of his rape case surfaced. The actor was jailed and was only just released on bail.

When Sudhir was asked about how he felt about the entire situation, he said, “It’s indeed very sad news, and I’m shocked with all that’s transpired. But I know Shiney on a personal level and he’s a wonderful human being. I’m saddened with the media’s approach to the matter; you can’t pass judgment on someone’s character without knowing the facts.”

About his new film with Shiney, he says, ‘Hitman is the story of an assassin, who looks back on his violent life the day that he thinks he will die. We will certainly not show him in a light that will hamper his case or image. My writer, Vinitesh, is putting together the character in a way that it doesn’t clash with Shiney’s interests. In my film, he is a repentant hitman. We want the law to take its course, but at the same time, we want Shiney to feel he is part of the mainstream.’

Shiney, at the moment, is confined to Delhi and is shooting his left-over scenes for Pritish Nandy’s film Ek Accident with Soha Ali Khan. Sudhir is in constant touch with Shiney and feels very bad for the actor, who has been ostracized by many of the B-town folk. He added, ‘No one can fully recover from such an ordeal. But at least friends should make him feel welcome and comfortable. Shiney needs to lead a normal life, which he is struggling with currently. At the moment, he’s struggling hard to get back to being the way he was.’