‘There’s not just one Weinstein in Bollywood … it’s full of them’
A YEAR ago, the Harvey Weinstein scandal sent shockwaves through Hollywood, with the subsequent TimesUp and MeToo movements reverberating across the worlds of media, sport, politics, business and beyond.
Until last week, Bollywood, the largest film industry on the planet, had remained unaffected. Mumbai’s powerful movie moguls, aided by politicians, closed ranks and actresses kept silent. The dark side of the industry, labelled the “casting couch”, continued to lead to the sexual harassment and assault of young, aspirational women.
The silence was shattered, however, when Tanushree Dutta, a 34-year-old actress and former Miss India winner, revived an allegation from 10 years ago that she had been sexually harassed by Nana Patekar, an award-winning 67-year-old actor on the set of the film Horn OK Please.
Ten years ago, her claims were briefly reported but then disappeared, with the actress left discredited. This time, the allegations have gained traction, with some of India’s biggest stars such as Sonam Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, a close friend of the Duchess of Sussex, coming out to back her.
Dutta, who has become the figurehead of the burgeoning Bollywood MeToo movement, told The Sunday Telegraph there had been a huge difference between then and now.
“Society back then wasn’t ready to hear me out so it all died down,” she said. “This time, after the Weinstein and MeToo movement in the West, it is different. India is now acknowledging harassment happens in the workplace.
“Our society has some serious problems. Even women who are raped are encouraged not to come forward. You just don’t talk about harassment.
“People are still afraid to speak out about it in Bollywood. People have seen the harassment I’ve experienced and they want to stay silent.”
Another successful actress, who wanted to remain unnamed, told The Sunday Telegraph: “There’s not just one Weinstein in Bollywood, the entire industry is full of them – and they pro- tect each other. It’s a closed shop.
“We are all terrified fied to speak out about t it, and that’s why it perpetuates. We know now that we may never ver work again if we rock ock the boat. Look at what’s happening to Tanushree – she’s he’s getting death threats eats and is ‘slut-shamed’ d’ – who’s going to cast her now?
“The casting couch uch for many producers cers basically means they hey can do what they y want with a girl and no questions are ever asked,” she e said. “If they don’t on’t acquiesce, they don’t on’t get the role.
“What’s needed d is for some huge stars rs to talk about the abuse they have suffered d themselves to get to the top.”
The reaction to o Dutta’s claims has rocked d India. Her supporters laud her bravery for being one of the he first peo- ple in Bollywood to raise the fact the industry is riddled with abuse. Dutta said harassment allegations had for years been “discussed behind closed doors and not openly, as is being done now”. “Looks like t the code of omerta is finally cracking,” Radha Rajadhyaksha, a film writer said, using the Italian Mafia’s word for the code of silence.
Dutta’s detractors paint her as an opportunist, who has revived the allegations against Patekar and others in the industry to breathe life in into her stalled career – with some adding that she was regularly dru drunk on set.
In interviews, Dutta says Patekar insi insisted on being in a scene with her, grabbed her by the arms, pushed her around and suggested an intimate sequence that ended with him on top of her. She was so uncomfortable she had to leave the set. A video went viral this week of her in her car after the incident being surrounded by dozens of thugs, allegedly linked to Patekar and far-Right Hindu nationalists, smashing the windscreen and letting down the tyres. The actress says she remains traumatised and has barely worked since. Patekar yesterday said the allegations were “lies” and has denied an any wrongdoing. His lawyer ha has reportedly sent a legal notice to Dutta accusing her of defamation. Dutta, who was on a path to stardom after winning Miss India and appearing in several films early in her career, decided not to take up further film offers after her experiences.
“I often wonder ‘what if it hadn’t happened to me’.”
‘The casting couch for many producers basically means they can do what they want with a girl and no questions are ever asked’