I’m neither Tanushree, nor Nana: Bachchan
Bollywood icon
Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday dodged a question about actress Tanushree Dutta’s sexual harassment allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar – which is likely to kickstart Bollywood’s own #MeToo movement.
At a film’s trailer launch, a mediaperson asked Amitabh and Aamir Khan to share their views on the Tanushree issue.
Amitabh steered clear from the controversy by saying: “Neither is my name Tanushree, nor is it Nana Patekar. How do I answer this question?”
On the other hand, Aamir said: “Without knowing the veracity of something or the details of something, I don’t think I can comment. It is not right for me. But I would like to say that whenever something like this does happen, it’s really sad. Now if it has happened or not it is for people to investigate.”
Tanushree, who had first raised the allegation against Nana in 2008, brought the spotlight once again on her unsavoury experience of working with the actor in the film Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss, through a recent interview.
Tanushree on nana
In an interview, Tanushree has said it was because of Nana’s powerful position as a National Award winning actor that her voice had got suppressed back then.
“In our country, actresses are perceived by their on-screen image mostly. It was no different for me back then since I made my debut in Bollywood with a film like Aashiq
Banaya Aapne that required me to do bold scenes. Since he was a veteran National Award-winning actor with so-called respect and popularity, repressing my voice was the easiest thing. So he did that.
“But, winning a National award does not make him a good human being,” Tanushree said in one breath.
She said her on-screen image gave people the perception that “I am available”.
“When the line was crossed and I put my foot down, I was mobbed, my family was harassed, and my voice was repressed,” she added.
Tanushree hopes her story gives “girls a sense of confidence to come out with their story if they are suffering”.
“Back then, the mainstream media did not pursue the story as actively as it is happening in the present day. Now, it is the right time for all the victims to share their story,” Tanushree said.
While a string of Bollywood celebrities, including filmmakers and actors have called out casting couch and sexual harassment in the industry, naming and shaming is yet to become a reality, even as Hollywood counterparts have remained outspoken ever since mass allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein came to light.