When the #MeToo movement took off in Hollywood, many powerful men went down. Others held their breath hoping and praying that the next name running on the headlines wouldn’t be theirs. There is no denying that there was a palpable tension in the air when one after the other men holding respectable positions in the industry got called out for their sexual misconducts.
And now, it’s finally happening in India. It began with Tanushree Dutta and spread like wildfire on Twitter. Women found the courage to name and shame the men who masquerade as woke individuals in their social and professional circles while exploiting the women around them.
However, despite the rampage on Twitter or Tanushree’s ongoing battle with Nana Patekar, Bollywood has kept mum about having its own #MeToo movement. Until Pooja Bhatt opened up about her experience.
Speaking at the India Today conclave, Pooja held nothing back on the topic of the ongoing Indian edition of the #MeToo movement, starting right from why she detests the usage of that term.
“Why do we insist on taking a cue from the West yet again by calling it the #MeToo? Sexual harassment, sexual abuse, rape, female infanticide is a reality in the subcontinent and is something that women have to suffer day after day.”
She questions why this conversation has been given access to the limelight only now that the West has taken it up.
On being asked what was the tipping point that has brought about this change where when women speak people have actually started taking note, she replied:
“I’d like to believe that things have changed but nothing changes until it changes in your homes and bedrooms. It’s important to air your grievances and frustrations. That itself is a major form of release.
When you speak uncomfortable truths in a world of lies, then you are looked upon as insane or you are dismissed. It comes down to eventually you believing in your truth because the truth does not require PR. So I think, what has changed is that we talk about it more.”
She then gave her take on the Tanushree Dutta-Nana Patekar saga. She said:
“The one thing that I find absolutely appalling is people arguing about why has she spoken 10 years later. It’s not fair to say why now or why not.”
The filmmaker who has never shied away from sharing the ups and downs in her personal life, then recounted the times she has had to face abusive men.
Recounting the time she had once spoken up about it earlier, Pooja Bhatt says:
“I’ve found myself in a relationship with an alcoholic. I’ve found myself in a situation where he struck me. I chose to speak about it the very next day. My very own people within the industry looked at me and said ‘Why are you washing your dirty linen in public?‘
But it was important for me to go out there and speak up. And tell people that ‘hey, I am as vulnerable as you are. If it could happen to me, it’s going to happen to you‘.”
She also spoke about the time a male friend of hers had grabbed her breast at an airport:
“You’re imagining an enemy out there when the enemy will be sitting right next to you.”
Adding to the Tanushree topic, she says the actress is allowed to speakup and that if she is sure about the truth, she should head to court. Pooja also claims that Bollywood shows allegiance at weddings and funerals, but not when a person is going through the fire and that looking for support from the industry is akin to setting yourself up for devastation.
Pooja’s revelations are refreshingly welcome at a time when powerful celebs choose to stay silent about such matters. It is about time someone called out Bollywood on its hypocritic show of the picture-perfect life when it lacks the courage to shed light on its shadier bits as well. We hope this is the start of something new and more stars, especially female actors, take a stand for a more inclusive and safe work environment in the industry.