Akshay Kumar, Toilets Are Great, but What About Stalking?

If a movie star can change a society’s mindset about building toilets, what message does his overt stalking carry?

A still from Hans Mat Pagli which shows Akshay Kumar surreptitiously taking pictures of Bhumi Pednekar on his phone.

(Photo courtesy: T-Series)

Akshay Kumar’s upcoming Toilet: Ek Prem Katha has been winning praises even before its release, thanks to its truly laudable highlight on the need of building a toilet in every Indian home. But all that good seems to have taken a hit with the release of its first song, Hans Mat Pagli.

The number itself, sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal, is honestly nothing to write home about. Spun around Akshay’s growing love for Bhumi Pednekar’s character in the film, it is the song’s picturisation that is really disturbing.

Watch the song here:

The entire song shows Akshay Kumar following an obviously irritated Bhumi around - and wait for this - creepily taking her pictures on his mobile phone.

It is true that Bollywood has never distinguished between stalking and courting, but still. It’s 2017. We are way aware of the implications of such behaviour in real life and the price women pay for it.

Honestly, did we need more encouragement on this front? If you think a movie star can change a society’s mindset about building toilets, what message does his overt stalking carry for the masses? Shouldn’t the filmmakers AND the leading actors have vetoed this?

Bollywood disappoints. Again.