Tanushree – Nana Patekar Controversy: Bollywood Actors Finally Start Speaking Up

A couple of days back, the #MeToo movement began in Bollywood when actor Tanushree Dutta came out and spoke about her being sexually harassed by co-actor Nana Patekar on the sets of Horn Ok Pleassss around 10 years ago. Her statement created a storm in Bollywood and a lot of stuff is doing rounds around the #MeToo Movement ever since then. While we were waiting for Bollywood voices to join her in this movement, we are glad that celebrities have come forth and started speaking about it in public. A lot of Bollywood celebrities have come out in Tanushree’s support and this looks like the beginning of #MeToo Movement in Bollywood.

Recently, Sushmita Sen talked about the Dutta-Patekar controversy and shared that we are not ready for a campaign like #MeToo. She said, “I was reading an interview of Tanushree Dutta this morning and she is right that it isn’t about the coming of a #MeToo campaign. By all means, it will come and it will go. It is far deeper. It’s a mindset. To change that, you’re looking at an entirely new generation being raised and being educated to believe in their rights and responsibilities. So, I don’t think a campaign will do it. We’re not ready for that yet.”

READ MORE: What Is Me Too Movement And What Took Women So Long To Open Up?

“But as far as I am concerned, I think it’s time we stop treating everything as a problem of a sector, it is a basic human right. To live a dignified life and that concerns everyone. It isn’t just about film industry because you are talking about an actor; it isn’t about the person from the media industry because it’s only related to the media. Women exist in all sectors today and thank god for that. Their safety and their integrity is very much everyone’s responsibility,” she added. 

Duo Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone were also asked about their views on it and they shared that it takes a lot of courage to come out and speak up. Actor Ranveer Singh shared, “Right now something has happened, it takes a lot of courage to speak about it. If it has happened, it’s wrong, and I condemn it emphatically.” Deepika agreed with Ranveer and shared her point too. She said, “For me, the #MeToo movement is not about gender. It’s about the victory of right over wrong. Anyone who faces any sort of discrimination or any sort of abuse, I think we as people must support that person. It’s not about a woman or a man or female versus male, let’s not get confused in that conversation.”

Actress Chitrangadha Singh also spoke in support of Tanushree. She shared, “I totally support Tanushree and kudos to her for standing up, taking names and saying exactly what happened with her. It takes a lot of guts to do what she’s doing and to be able to come forward after all these years. I’m pretty sure she knew what will happen when she speaks up - the trolling, the comments, the opposition. It’s such a brave step and I totally support her. Whatever her reason is to come out now and not come out then, doesn’t make a difference, what matters is that she’s telling her truth. And if she is, it should be heard, it doesn’t matter when you tell it. There are so many rapes or molestation victims who might not have been in a state of mind to talk about an incident when it happened and choose to speak up later. It doesn’t matter when you say it, but if it’s the truth, it has to be heard.”

Let us also tell you actor Nana Patekar had scheduled a press conference to address the allegations of Tanushree Dutta yesterday. However, he canceled the conference in the morning sending across a message through his son. Later, he told the media persons assembled, "My lawyer has asked me to not talk to any channel, have to listen to him. I would say what I said 10 years back, the truth doesn't change." Well, that still doesn't clear things for us.

Harassment is a disturbing experience and it is important to understand that it is only about entertainment industry but about women all over, working in different sectors. Tanushree who came out to share this with the public wasn’t initially supported by many. However, she hoped of people joining her in this movement. As Bollywood actors are slowly coming out to speak in her support, we hope Tanushree’s voice is heard and it gives more women the courage to come up and speak it all out in public. For more updates on the Tanushree and Nana Patekar controversy, stay tuned.