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To all those people who question why women choose to speak up years after being harassed, assaulted or raped, here’s another eye-opener. The physical wounds might heal over time, but the hurt and scars on their psyche, their soul, their lives are forever etched. And that’s exactly why it takes a lot of courage to speak up, whether it is right after or years after the violation has happened to them.
This is actress Flora Saini.
You might know her from her recent role as the ghost ‘Stree‘ in the Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor starrer ‘Stree‘.
Back in 2007, Flora alleged that producer Gaurang Doshi, with whom she was in a live-in relationship, had assaulted her. Consequently, a domestic violence case was filed, and Doshi was later acquitted.
Flora’s case, in which she had demanded Rs. 7 crore as damages was dismissed on the grounds that she wasn’t his wife. Gaurang’s ex-wife, Madhuri, had also filed a case of cruelty against him, both instances alluding that Doshi was prone to violence.
In 2014, again, Flora had filed a case of cheating against Doshi, who has produced films like Aankhen and Deewar. In an interview with TOI, she described in detail how Doshi harassed her for all the time they were dating and living together.
In light of the #MeToo wave that is moving drastically to clean the filth of sexual assaulters and harassers across industries, Flora Saini decided to open up about her ordeal in a Facebook post for survivors.
In her post, she shared pictures of her bruised face from back in 2007 when Gaurang Doshi had allegedly beaten her up on February 14, Valentines’ Day.
That's me.. Valentine's day 2007 beaten up by a known producer "Gaurang Doshi' who I loved n was dating then .. this was…
Posted by Flora Saini on Monday, October 8, 2018
Here’s her full post:
“That’s me… Valentine’s day 2007 beaten up by a known producer “Gaurang Doshi’ who I loved n was dating then… this was the last of the one year abuse I took..came out with a fractured jaw n a scarred soul for life..
I realised me talking about it, that time, jus went against me, cos he was the powerful one n nobody wanted to believe some girl who was relatively new in the industry, it was his word against mine, and of course, his word mattered.
He threatened me that he will make sure I never work in the industry again n much more… n he did his best to make me believe it too… I was replaced in films, people didn’t quiet wanna even meet me or let me audition.
I thot I made a mistake, I shud have jus kept quiet… I wanted to runaway, hide n be somewhere where people didn’t look at me with judging eyes n cud only jus give me work… n not judge me by the abuse I suffered at the hands of gaurang doshi with no fault of mine.
N mind u there were girls after me who were made to suffer the same way by the same man, they called me for help but weren’t brave enuf to even come out n speak for themselves.
This note is for all the people who have chosen to speak
who are standing up against anybody who has done them wrong, no matter how powerful or renowned… it’s takes guts… a lot of guts… the abuser forgets, but the abused carries the baggage forever… u guys make me so proud to b a woman in this industry today where our voice is being heard where people are not judging us for speaking out against an abuser… they r actually coming together to make the work space safe for us even more… to all the people who are standing up to talk n all those who standing up to support…
I bow to you… ur my SUPERHERO’s ❤️
& Trust me… THE WORLD NEEDS MORE OF U
My life after this incident hasn’t been the same n has changed me in ways that I can’t ever repair… But one thing I’ve known, believed n lived as a proof is that God alone controls ur destiny n no man can ever challenge him.
Live ur truth, wear it like armour n don’t let anybody make u feel small… u are not alone this time.
Nothing we ever went thru was in vain… more power to u all… may u continue to stand tall… may we heal, may we be happy n may we shine with love n strength… knowing we conquered it all…❤️
Flora’s post is one amongst many survivors’, who have chosen to speak up about the men who have wronged them, irrespective of how long ago. Only last night, the startling revelation of filmmaker Vinta Nanda, who alleged being raped by Bollywood and TV’s most sanskaari man Alok Nath during their ‘Tara’ days has rocked the nation.
More power to these women, these survivors. Because no one except for them can fathom the amount of courage it takes to relive those horrors that they’ve tried to suppress for the rest of their lives.
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