Pari, Arjun on Tanushree- Nana controversy

There’s only one thing the media wants to know from every member of the film industry right now — What are your thoughts on the allegations of sexual harassment levelled by Tanushree Dutta against Nana Patekar? And at a recent song- launch event for their upcoming film Namaste

London, Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor found themselves at the receiving end of that question. Here’s what they had to say.

PARINEETI CHOPRA:

“Honestly, I hope this is not the start of a # MeToo movement in Bollywood, because that would mean that there are several such stories yet to come out. I hope this is the first and last story. If there are other victims, especially women, in the industry, I want them to come out and speak about it. If they don’t speak now, they may be suppressed forever.

Personally, I've never gone through such an experience. But God forbid, if something like this happened to me, I would’ve never kept quiet. Keeping quiet is never the solution. This is something very serious, if it has actually happened. I'm not taking sides, because I wasn’t there. But if it has happened, it's the worst thing that can happen to a woman. If we don’t feel protected in the industry, how can we live and work? I hope it’s untrue, but if it isn’t, we will all support her, even the men.”

ARJUN KAPOOR:

“I have two sisters working in this industry, and two others working elsewhere. This happens everywhere — it’s the truth. But one person has gathered the courage to speak up about it.

We need to understand that it’s important to listen to her.

The problem is that we start causing chaos without listening. This girl has spoken about something so dreaded — she deserves to be heard before we start hurling judgements, taking sides, pointing fingers or asking if this is the start of a movement.

Right now, we need to introspect, listen, understand, and make sure that if there are other such stories, they’re heard too. Let’s not make noise for the wrong reasons.”