In 2018, at the peak of the #MeToo movement in India, several female actors including Saloni Chopra, Priyanka Bose, Aahana Kamra, and Sherlyn Chopra accused Bollywood biggie Sajid Khan of sexual harassment and misconduct. They had put forth shocking allegations and were supported by bigger female actors like Bipasha Basu and Dia Mirza.
These incidents took place when Sajid Khan was directing ‘Houseful 4’. Following social media outrage, he stepped down as the director of the film and since then, he has been kept out of the public radar.
However, recently, he emerged as one of the contestants in Big Boss season 16. It is downright deplorable to see a #MeToo accused being given such a huge national platform while the female actors who accused him of harassment continue to struggle to find decent work.
According to DNA, Urfi Javed took to Instagram to call out the makers of the show for ‘supporting’ sexual predators.
View this post on Instagram
“Bigg Boss, why would you do that? When you support sexual pedators, you’re actually telling them that it’s okay what they have done. These men need to know this behaviour is not okay and they cannot get away with it. Stop working with sexual predators! It’s not controversial, it’s just disgraceful! Sajid Khan never apologised for what he did! Imagine what the girls he harassed must be feeling? So you don’t really have to worry because even if you harass multiple women you will still get to be on the biggest show in India!! Controversy ke liye aap har cheez thode support karenge! #Colors stop supporting sexual predators!” she wrote.
According to Hindustan Times, Iranian actress and model Mandana Karimi said that such incidents are the reason why the #MeToo movement doesn’t bring about change in many countries.
“To be honest, I’m not surprised to see him back in the spotlight. For people, life has become like I will put my head under the sand. If it is going to benefit me, and I can make money, then who cares? That shows why the MeToo movement in India and many other countries didn’t really reach anywhere. It was just a few women, they came, they spoke and that was it. What is the action? Who is boycotting these people? Nothing is going to happen. Because we are talking about the bigger industry, which is a place where someone is someone’s mom, boyfriend, girlfriend or husband. It’s like you, you scratch my back, and I will scratch your back,” she said.
‘Remove Sajid Khan’ has been trending on Twitter as many people, including actors, singers, and film critics, have been reminding people of the horrors that the #MeToo accused put women through. Have a look:
I just have to come out at say it; a sexual predator (#SajidKhan ) shouldn’t be put on an international podium & be celebrated!
It’s not just about the 9 courageous women but all women.
Take a Stand & uSay no to Abuse of Power & Sexual Predation. #GetSajidOut #BiggBoss16— Andy Kumar (@iAmVJAndy) October 5, 2022
– Whipped out his penis at parties.
– Asked female actors to send nudes as part of casting.
– Talked in a sexually degrading manner to women.
– Watched porn in front of his female staff.
Just a few things this filmmaker turned reality contestant has been accused of 🤮— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) October 2, 2022
This is #SajidKhan , now on a reality TV show. 👇🏾Then there is #AnuMalik judging a music reality show on TV,for children no less. #KailashKher ? Celebrity Judge on TV. ALL called out by many many women in @IndiaMeToo .Indian TV channels, executives are indeed depraved & sad lot. https://t.co/uUzrIYb7sn
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) October 2, 2022
in case we've forgotten, #SajidKhan took his d*ck out in front of women regularly, actors journalists he didn't care. just a reminder before we start watching that damn show 'just for entertainment yaar'. expect better demand better
— Sucharita Tyagi (@Su4ita) October 2, 2022
Remember the socialite accused by as many as five women of sexual harassment, the editor of a news channel accused by two women journalists, the former minister who was accused by multiple women. You see them at soirees, lit fests, hosted by many who claim to be feminists #MeToo
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) October 3, 2022
It’s one thing to “hear murmurs”, and another to be confided in over many years about #SajidKhan flashing his penis to unsuspecting colleagues and friends. Sajid Khan is a serial offender. Any effort to reinstate him into the ecosystem is sickening and vile. #BiggBoss16 https://t.co/efSMVxt9FW
— Aniruddha Guha (@AniGuha) October 2, 2022
Please remove sajid khan from show pata nhi why he's resolving fights saying sorry sorry gale milo what's this baap banne kyu aaye ho sbke
— Ankit Umrey (@UmreyAnkit) October 6, 2022
Its quite revolting to watch Biggboss currently. The audacity of using a platform like #BiggBoss16 for clearing his #MeToo allegations. Disgusting. Remove Sajid Khan ASAP.
— Adi_Reddy ⚕️ (@dr_adireddy) October 6, 2022
What is the message that such a popular show is sending men and women? That people in power can get away with anything? I urge @BiggBoss to Remove Sajid Khan (MeToo accused) From The Show #EvictSajidKhan – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/y42O28b7bv via @ChangeOrg_India
— Chriselle B (@AdventurerC) October 3, 2022
People urge women to ‘out’ sexual predators but when they finally do so, what difference does it make?