Tanushree Dutta’s sexual harassment allegations against Nana Patekar have sparked an outrage and given voice to countless survivors to speak up against sexual assault and harassment at the workplace. B-Town bigwigs, including Subhash Ghai, Alok Nath, Sajid Khan, Vikas Bahl, Anu Malik, Anirban Blah, Mukesh Chhabra have been named in the #MeToo storm that has hit Bollywood, amongst others. Even as we weigh in on the allegations and the rightful justice for the survivors, more accounts emerge against members of the Hindi film industry.
Anu Malik steps down as ‘Indian Idol 10’ judge
Rahul Raj Singh accuses Mushtaq Shiekh sexually harassing him
KWAN founder Anirban Blah rescued from alleged suicide attempt
Mukesh Chhabra suspended from ‘Kizzie Aur Manny’
Nana Patekar sends notice to CINTAA; denies allegations
Sushant Singh Rajput responds to #MeToo allegations
Vikas Bahl files a defamation case against Kashyap & Motwane
Business Head of Y-Films, Ashish Patil’s services terminated by YRF
Trigger Warning: The following article contains details about sexual assault and violence. The details may be traumatic for survivors. Reader discretion is advised.
Aahana Kumra Accuses Sajid Khan of Sexual Harassment
Aahana Kumra, in an interview with Bombay Times, accuses Sajid Khan of sexual harassment. She said, “I had a meeting with Sajid Khan about a year ago, knowing the fact that he is a shady guy. I met him and he did the same thing that Saloni (Chopra) has written about him. Same drill — you go to his house, you are escorted to his room which is pretty dark. He makes you watch what he’s watching.
I was on the verge of committing suicide, because this culture is so normalised by certain people. I couldn’t live with it.
(Source: Bombay Times)
Wasn't Aware of the Entire Episode: Tanushree's Brother-In-Law Vatsal Sheth
Actor Vatsal Sheth has spoken out about the harassment that Tanushree Dutta has faced. Sheth is married to Tanushree’s sister Ishita. In an interview with the Times of India, he was quoted as saying, “It is very brave of Tanushree to come out and speak about the incident that she faced. I also got to know recently from Ishita what had happened as I was not aware.”
He also said, “I am very glad that she is getting a lot of support, not just from Bollywood but everyone. Yes, I do see changes happening around. Certain things which were happening in the industry needed to be corrected or stopped.”
(Source: Times of India)
More Noise Than Change: Malaika Arora on #MeToo in Bollywood
The #MeToo movement has entered India, starting a conversation around making the workplace safe for all. But actress Malaika Arora feels there is more noise than actual change at the moment.
"I don't see too much of a change. I hear people. I think there is more noise than change," said Arora in an interview with IANS .
"If we are talking about this industry, one is seeing a lot (of things) happening. People are talking about it. But for actual change to happen or for people to actually sit up and do something about it and actually make a movement out of it, mindset has to change and people's mindset cannot change overnight," she added.
Anonymous Accuser Responds to Star India
The anonymous accuser, who had made allegations of sexual exploitation against Star India Chairman and CEO Uday Shankar, has responded to Star India’s request to come forward so as to assure a fair probe.
The accuser, in an email written to women’s rights lawyer and external member of Star India’s Internal Complaints Committee Veena Gowda, has said the exercise would be an eyewash to save Shankar rather than see that justice is done.