Recently, Payal Ghosh, an Indian actress accuses filmmaker Anurag Kashyap that the director has sexually harassed her when asked for work.
In a statement given by Payal said, ‘He made me feel uncomfortable. I felt bad about it, whatever happened shouldn’t have happened. If someone approaches you for work, it doesn’t mean the person is prepared for anything.’
Here is the video of Payal’s statement by ANI
#WATCH: He made me feel uncomfortable. I felt bad about it, whatever happened shouldn't have happened. If someone approaches you for work,it doesn't mean the person is prepared for anything: Actor Payal Ghosh on her allegation of sexual harassment against Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap pic.twitter.com/rL0C1AHZNe
— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2020
Anurag Kashyap responded to her statement with a series of tweets and termed it as baseless. The director replied in Hindi as, ‘I neither behave like this, nor do I ever tolerate any price. The rest see whatever happens. It is visible in your video, how much is true, how much is not left; all you have to do is pray and love. Apologies for answering your English in Hindi.’
Moreover, he said,’The rest accusing me, dragging my actors and the Bachchan family together could not even kill the chowka. Madame has two marriages, if she is a crime, she is acceptable, and she is very much in love. Whether I have a first wife or a second wife or any girlfriend or a lot of actresses I’ve worked with, or a whole girl and women’s team that has always worked with me, or all the women I’ve met, alone or in public.’
मैं इस तरह का व्यवहार ना तो कभी करता हूँ ना तो कभी किसी क़ीमत पे बर्दाश्त करता हूँ । बाक़ी जो भी होता है देखते हैं । आपके विडीओ में ही दिख जाता है कितना सच है कितना नहीं , बाक़ी आपको बस दुआ और प्यार ।आपकी अंग्रेज़ी का जवाब हिंदी में देने के लिए माफ़ी ।
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) September 19, 2020
In support of Anurag Kashyap, Pink movie actress Taapsee Pannu came out with a tweet and picture and said, ‘For you, my friend, are the biggest feminist I know.’
See you on the sets soon of yet another piece of art that shows how powerful and significant women are in the world you create.’
For you, my friend , are the biggest feminist I know.
See you on the sets soon of yet another piece of art that shows how powerful and significant women are in the world you create 🙂 🤗 https://t.co/M9AgMDHTPH— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) September 20, 2020
Controversy Queen, Kangana also came into picture said, ‘Anurag is very much capable of doing what #PayalGhosh suggested, he cheated on all his partners, self admittedly has never been monogamous.’ She also said, ‘#PayalGosh will be humiliated and silenced like all other victims, but my heart goes out to her. We deserve a better society #AnuragKashyap.’
https://twitter.com/kanganateam/status/1307602444973531136?s=21
https://twitter.com/kanganateam/status/1307598868977074177?s=21
Later Anurag Kashyap on his Instagram posted a copy of the statement made by his lawyer on his behalf.
Bollywood has witnessed many similar kinds of situations in the past, which has led to significant outrage in the industry.
#MeToo: Tanushree Dutta alleged against Nana Patekar
This incident fueled up the #MeToo movement in India, where Tanushree called out Actor Nana Patekar for harassing her on the sets of ‘Horn Ok Pleasss’ in 2008. In 2018, after filing an FIR with Mumbai police against Patekar, Tanushree filed a fresh complaint with CINTAA asking them to take action on her complaint that she had filed in 2008.
She also took names like Ganesh Acharya, Rakesh Sarang, and producer Sami Siddiqui who were involved all along. In response to this, that time Nana Patekar replied through his lawyer, ‘All the allegations against are fake and far away from the truth.’
Tanushree Dutta’s quest for justice saw some vindication when Nana Patekar was kicked out of ‘Housefull 4’ along with the film’s director Sajid Khan owing to multiple harassment allegations.
The actress wants to push the #MeToo movement as she believes there are many horrifying stories which are still untold.
#MeToo had gained momentum in the past few years inside and outside of Bollywood industry; several know names such as Vikas Bahl, Anu Malik, Alok Nath, to name a few.
MJ Akbar and 14 Women Journalists
A similar situation came up when MJ Akar, junior foreign minister, was accused by 14 women journalists for sexual misconduct or harassment as part of #MeToo movement in India. Due to growing pressure in social media, he became the first minister who was forced to resign from the post.
Now, what all things can be expected out of this? Which side is real, and which is false? What more angles can come into this story? Is the dirty side of the Indian film industry worse than what is being exposed? Share your thoughts and comments on this and do share it.
