#MeToo movement in India gathers steam
Journalists, actors, movie directors, comedians in a spot
The belated #MeToo movement in India gathered more momentum yesterday, with a clutch of female journalists naming and shaming senior figures in the media industry and a veteran Bollywood writer-producer accusing actor Alok Nath of sexually violating her almost 20 years ago.
But the flurry of accusations on social media also raised concerns about complicity as well as what some users called unverified “Trial by Twitter” of known public figures.
More than a dozen complaints of sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct have been levelled on social media against prominent journalists, actors, movie directors, comedians and other public figures. In the last 48 hours, veterans including Alok Nath and Malayalam actor-politician Mukesh have been accused of varying degrees of predatory behaviour. The Editors Guild of India wants all reported cases to be investigated.
It took a year for Hollywood’s #MeToo movement to emerge in Bollywood, but the floodgates have opened as more than a dozen talents in cinema and comedy are accused of sexual misconduct ranging from lewd messaging to rape.
Two weeks ago, actress Tanushree Dutta sparked a watershed moment in the clannish Indian entertainment scene as she revived her charges of sexual misconduct against Nana Patekar while she was filming in 2008 for Horn Ok Pleassss.
In an exclusive interview with
Gulf News tabloid! last month, Dutta labelled Patekar as “the bully, the manipulator and a person who doesn’t shy away from using any pressure tactics.”
“This is just about me speaking up my truth and creating awareness so that other women can come forward,” said Dutta.
Her harassment claims have been denied by Patekar. She also accused Vivek Agnihotri of harassment, claims which have empowered women to name and shame their high-profile sexual predators.
The last few days have seen a surge in sexual assault allegations in an industry that’s known to hush up sexual abuse claims for the fear of embarrassment or loss of livelihood in a male-dominated entertainment industry. Women from all fields are stepping up as they share their experiences of harassment publicly.
In the last 72 hours, actors, including Alok Nath who is Bollywood’s go-to man for upright, genial father roles in clean family entertainers and Malayalam actor-politician Mukesh, have been accused of varying degrees of predatory behaviour.
Vinta Nanda, the writer-director of hit television drama series Tara, accused Alok Nath of rape and brutalising her at her own home, charges that he denied to reporters in India.
Raped at home
National Award-winning director Vikas Bahl, who directed the enduring romantic comedy
Queen, was accused of sexual misconduct by his colleague who was a part of his nowdissolved production company Phantom Films, cofounded by maverick talents Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane. The news of their fractured partnership was followed by harassment claims against Bahl that sent shock waves in Bollywood. Actress Kangana Ranaut, who played the lead actor in Bahl’s Queen, also accused Bahl of inappropriate behaviour that included smelling her hair while embracing her.
As the #MeToo movement gains momentum, the backlash has been swift. Bahl, who was working with Bollywood heavyweight Hrithik Roshan in his next film Super 30, has been reportedly dropped from the promotions of his new film and he has also been dropped from his new TV series project.
Actor Rajat Kapoor, who has acted in Mira Nair’s Monsoon
Wedding as a paedophile, was also called out for his alleged sexual harassment on Twitter with two women — an assistant director and a journalist — accusing him of inappropriate behaviour. Kapoor has apologised for having “slipped”.
“I am sorry from the bottom of my heart — and sad that I was the cause of this hurt to another human being,” he tweeted. His film Kadakh has been dropped from the MAMI film festival.
Comedian Utsav Chakraborty of AIB comedy collective has also been accused of sexual misconduct. Following the allegations, its co-founder Tanmay Bhat who didn’t take adequate steps to curtail Chakraborty’s growth in his organisation has quit AIB.
[Nana Patekar] is the bully, the manipulator and a person who doesn’t shy away from using any pressure tactics. This is just about me speaking up my truth and creating awareness so that other women can come forward.” Tanushree Dutta Indian actress
I have waited for this moment to come for 19 years. [Alok Nath] was an alcoholic, shameless and obnoxious but he was also the TV star of that decade... This is a moment for change, so speak out. Shout out from the top of the roof.” Vinta Nanda Indian writer-director
It isn’t just Bollywood that’s feeling the tremors of the #MeToo movement. Malayalam casting director Tess Joseph took to Twitter to accuse actor-comedian Mukesh of sexual misconduct that took place 19 years ago during the shoot of TV show Kodeeshwaran, Kerala’s answer to Kaun Banega Crorepati. Author of pulp novels Chetan Bhagat was called out for sending sexually suggestive messages.
The list of predators continues to grow as women call out on-screen heroes and topple them from the pedestal. Try to catch up with the names.