India’s #MeToo Moment: Bollywood Backs Actress Tanushree Dutta as She Alleges Harassment by Veteran Actor Nana Patekar
Tanushree Dutta, who has spoken up about her sexual harassment at the hands of veteran actor Nana Patekar on a film set a decade ago, receives support from Bollywood.
MUMBAI, 28th September 2018: Days after actress Tanushree Dutta’s sexual harassment allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar created a whirlwind, a gamut of stars like Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Vir Das and Anurag Kashyap have spoken out strongly in support of the former beauty queen and a safer working environment for women.
Tanushree Dutta had first raised the allegation against the actor in 2008. She brought the spotlight once again on her unpleasant experience of working with Nana Patekar during the shooting of “Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss,” in a recent interview.
Patekar, 67, on Sept. 27 denied all allegations and said: “What can I do about what one says? You tell me. What does it mean by sexual harassment.”
While veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan chose to steer clear from commenting on the controversy, drawing flak from the social media world, a string of celebrities on Sept. 28 raised their voice.
Here’s what the celebrities have tweeted
Priyanka Chopra: Agreed..the world needs to believe survivors.
Agreed..the world needs to #BelieveSurviviors https://t.co/ia82UsCkkq
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) September 28, 2018
Chopra’s sister, actress Parineeti Chopra also tweeted in support
I agree too. Survivors are survivors because they have dealt with something and come out on the other side. So believe them, respect them. @janiceseq85 #TanushreeDutta https://t.co/L6bxaG5HPk
— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) September 28, 2018
Farhan Akhtar, who has launched a social campaign Men Against Rape and Discrimination or MARD in 2013, re-tweeted a string of posts by an eyewitness about the details of Tanushree’s ordeal.
“This thread is very telling. Janice Sequeira, was there at the time of the incident being debated today. Even when Tanushree Dutta had career concerns to keep quiet 10 years ago, she did not. And her story has not changed now. Her courage should be admired, not her intention questioned,” Akhtar said.
This thread is very telling. @janiceseq85 was there at the time of the incident being debated today. Even when #TanushreeDutta had career concerns to keep quiet 10 years ago she did not & her story hasn’t changed now. Her courage should be admired, not her intention questioned. https://t.co/Ola3MNdmtS
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) September 27, 2018
Sonam K Ahuja said, “I believe #TanushreeDatta and @janiceseq85 recollection of the account. Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it’s upto us to stand together.”
I believe #TanushreeDatta and @janiceseq85 recollection of the account. Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it’s upto us to stand together. https://t.co/sF3mS5o1P8
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) September 28, 2018
Many of my co-workers,female and male have been harassed and bullied, but it’s their story to tell. If we don’t encourage their voices and instead vilify and question them, how will victims ever become survivors? Let them speak up! Stand up with them!
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) September 28, 2018
Actress Richa Chadha wrote that “It hurts to be Tanushree Dutta right now. To be alone, questioned.
“No woman wants publicity that opens the floodgates of trolling and insensitivity. What happened to her on set was intimidation. Her only fault was she did not back down — (that) takes a special courage to be Tanushree Dutta.”
It hurts to be #TanushreeDutta rn. To be alone, questioned. No woman wants publicity that opens the floodgates of trolling and insensitivity.What happened to her on set was intimidation.Her only fault was she didn’t back down-takes a special courage to be #TanushreeDutta.
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) September 27, 2018
‘Mr. and Mrs. Iyer’-actress Konkona Sen also shared the thread, saying, “We all know the reality of the power imbalance that exists in the workplace” .
Please read this thread. We all know the reality of the power imbalance that exists in the workplace. Let us encourage these voices instead of shaming them so that others may have the strength to come forward. https://t.co/5NefCpWpCs
— Konkona Sensharma (@konkonas) September 28, 2018
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta tweeted, “India in general does not have a conducive work environment. Mental harassment, abuse and predatorial behaviour by people in positions of power are prevalent and considered perks of being in power. Years of oppression and colonial rule have permanently altered our DNA.”
India in general does not have a conducive work environment. Mental harassment, abuse and predatorial behaviour by people in positions of power are prevalent and considered perks of being in power. Years of oppression and colonial rule have permanently altered our DNA.
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) September 28, 2018
Will this also die a natural death with no formal complaint, no proper investigation and no punitive action against the predator if he is found guilty? Honestly, I am cynical about the outcome. These offenders go scot free because our outrage is short-lived. #TanushreeDutta https://t.co/iHTBa0VQY9
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) September 28, 2018
We must stop asking 'what did you about it then' and start asking 'what can we do about it now'. It's now or never.
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) September 28, 2018
Actress Swara Bhasker re-tweeted a series of posts and wrote, “This is a long thread, but one that must be read…. lots of clues here as to why Bollywood’s #MeToo moment is so far away. Because we don’t want to hear these voices.”
A female assistant director on set of the film speaks up. #IBelieveYouTanushreeDutta https://t.co/SjH0foQKbu
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 28, 2018
Producer, author Twinkle Khanna tweeted, “Please read this thread before judging or shaming Tanushree Dutta — a working environment without harassment and intimidation is a fundamental right and by speaking up this brave woman helps pave the way towards that very goal for all of us!”
Please read this thread before judging or shaming #TanushreeDutta a working environment without harassment and intimidation is a fundamental right and by speaking up this brave woman helps pave the way towards that very goal for all of us! https://t.co/f8Nj9YWRvE
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) September 28, 2018
Sequeira on Wednesday tweeted a thread recalling the unsavoury episode saying “some incidents that take place even a decade ago remain fresh in your memory. What happened with Tanushree is one such incident.
Some incidents that take place even a decade ago remain fresh in your memory. What happened with #TanushreeDutta on the sets of “Horn Ok Please” is one such incident – I was there. #NanaPatekar
[THREAD]
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
She said that she had seen how the actress was visibly upset about something on the sets while Patekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya and the producer huddled around.
She said, “Amidst this chaos, I got hold of #NanaPatekar. All he said was, “Meri beti jaisi hai”, which didn’t really make any sense at that point.” It was only later that she realised.
I was a cub reporter in 2008, assigned by AajTak and Headlines Today to cover the BTS of a song being shot for this film. When I arrived, I was told shooting had been stalled because the actress, #TanushreeDutta was "being difficult". #NanaPatekar
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
I could see Tanushree on set, visibly upset about something. #NanaPatekar, choreographer Ganesh Acharya and a man (who I later found was the producer) were having a conversation, while 50-odd dancers sat waiting. The official version was that the “heroine was not cooperating”.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
A while later, shooting resumed. Tanushree resumed work, and a couple shots later, #NanaPatekar joined her. Not long after that, Tanushree walked off set. Shooting halted again. She locked herself in her vanity van, refusing to come out.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
Out of nowhere, goons turned up and began banging against the vanity van door. I was told the producers had called them to set. Cops arrived. Amidst this chaos, I got hold of #NanaPatekar. All he said was, “Meri beti jaisi hai”, which didn’t really make any sense at that point.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
Eventually, Tanushree’s parents arrived to pick her up. Her car was attacked, the windshield broken. I tried to get in touch with Tanushree to get her version of events. Around midnight, she asked me to come to her place. In tears, she narrated what really happened. #NanaPatekar
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
Tanushree told me that after three days of rehearsals, Ganesh Acharya changed every step on the day of shoot. #NanaPatekar was never meant to be part of the choreography, but coerced the producers into getting him to shake a leg with Dutta.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
Later, she said, a lewd dance step was introduced on the insistence of #NanaPatekar, so he could touch her inappropriately. That’s where alarm bells rang, and Tanushree decided to walk off set. What she didn’t expect was the aggression shown by the producers after.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
The chat I had with Dutta hours after the incident was identical to the account she’s come out with now. How could a person’s version remain the same a decade later if there wasn’t any truth to it?
[Our chat was off-the-record, even though she went on to give interviews later.]
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
For anyone who’s either going to be ignoring or downplaying Dutta’s account as a desperate call for attention and question why she didn’t speak out earlier – she did. Interviews by Dutta were followed by a press conference by #NanaPatekar where she was branded “unprofessional”.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
This was a decade ago. It could have possibly been the first instance of a Bollywood actress calling out sexual predators, and her voice was silenced by more powerful men who continued to have flourishing careers. Now she’s found her voice again. Shouldn't we listen? #NanaPatekar
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
Things aren’t the same anymore (even though, they aren’t exactly different either). The #MeToo movement has encouraged women to come out and speak about sexual misconduct in the West. If it’s, in turn, inspiring women in India to speak out, we need to find a way to encourage it.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
We all know there are hundreds and thousands of women who are too afraid to speak out against sexual assault and misconduct, lest they be called "unprofessional". They will only speak up if we appreciate – even laud – the courage of #TanushreeDutta, and not look the other way.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018
Patekar on Thursday told a news channel: “What can I do about what one says? You tell me. What does it mean by sexual harrassment.”
In a shock to many of his fans and supporters, megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday dodged commenting on the episode saying: “Neither am I Tanushree, nor am I Nana,” which invited trolls galore.
IANS
