Male celebs can get maligned for no fault of theirs, says Ekta on the sexual harassment debate

It all started with the New York Times exposé on the years of sexual harassment suffered by women at the hands of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein — since then, the controversy around rampant harassment and, in some cases, sexual assault on women has enveloped Hollywood. Echoes of that has been heard in Bollywood, too.

Giving her take on this phenomenon, television and film producer Ekta Kapoor, one of the most famous women in Indian entertainment, says, “I am probably the biggest supporter of women, but I am also an equalist. I believe there are several pros and cons to all these [allegations of sexual harassment being levelled by women]. By this, I mean, I know a lot of celebrities who got maligned last year for no fault of their own. Now that shouldn’t be the case. I, therefore, feel that laws should be the same for men and women.”

Ekta adds, “I feel [that] in a country like ours, we have to support women in every way possible. But I hope [that] no one gets exploited in the process.” In her own production company, she tries to ensure an atmosphere of openness and equality, says the media producer.

In the Harvey Weinstein controversy, among the first to speak out was actor Ashley Judd. What followed were several other accusations against Weinstein and many other men in Hollywood, and the accusers included A-list female actors such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie. And at the same time, the #metoo campaign on social media encouraged women to recount the sexual assaults they faced, anywhere and everywhere.

I know celebrities who got maligned for no fault of their own. That shouldn’t be the case. Laws should be the same [for both sexes] EKTA KAPOOR PRODUCER

Ekta Kapoor says that as a media producer, she tries to ensure equality PHOTO: AMAL KS/HT