With the #MeToo movement finally gathering huge momentum in India, Indian women across industries are hoping for even the tiniest change to spark. With big names like minister M J Akbar, journalist Gautam Adhikari and Bollywood personalities like Nana Patekar, Vikas Bahl and Sajid Khan being called out for their behaviour towards women, it sure looks like things could be headed for a change.
However, not everyone is gung-ho about it; there are those who still believe that the current raging fire might soon be put out, without much changing. One of them is television actress Shilpa Shinde.
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It was only last year, that Shilpa had accused her Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai producer, Sanjay Kohli, of sexual harassment. She did speak about it that time, and eventually left the show.
In an exclusive interview with ZoomTV, Shilpa Shinde expressed her views on the current host of women coming out with their harassment and rape stories, saying that speaking up when the it occured is the only way to go about it.
“Baad mei aap voice raise karte ho, usko koi nahi sunega, just controversy hogi – nothing else. You have to take a call that time only when it happens and obviously, you need power.”
Shilpa wasn’t keen to talk about her own case, claiming that the matter was closed now. However, she did maintain that when she spoke up, no one came to help her or listen to her.
“I heard there’s some NGO or organisation and they are doing this. I have faced harassment, I have gone through a lot – nobody was there for me. Koi kisi ke liye hota nahi hai. Now, something different is there. 100% koi badi power hai jo ye sab kar raha hai. I don’t believe this.”
While several women have made rape allegations against prominent men in the industry, Shilpa’s views differ. She claims that it is all mutual understanding, and if the women are not willing, then they can just leave.
“Women are speaking now but at that time also I said that there’s no rape in this industry- zabardasti nahi hota. Whatever has happened in our industry, it’s a mutual understanding. It’s a mutual thing. If you are not ready to do that, just leave that thing.”
Furthermore, she added how girls who come for addition often dress in short clothes, because the general assumption is to look glamourous. And then, it is just men being men.
“There was one girl who came to our sets wearing such short clothes. I asked her why are you wearing this, she said I have just come for a meeting. I said you know you have come for a TV show and asked her how protagonists are dressed in a TV show. She was very innocent and very simple, I asked who suggested her to wear those clothes and who told her that if you wear these kinds of clothes you will get work? Not necessary. If you are talented, you will get to work. You don’t need to wear these kinds of clothes or do something else or something different. She got to know that and she said I am sorry. She had no idea. They just think that you have to look glamorous and we all know how men are. It’s simple – it’s everywhere. Koi saamne se aa raha hai toh koi bhi aadmi mana nahi karta. I think you have to draw your own line.”
Speaking about the #MeToo movement, Shilpa thinks all this coming out business is tarnishing the image of the industry.
“I don’t know why they are spoiling our industry’s name. People are now talking about our industry – ki aisa hota hai, waisa hota hai.”
While the Cine & TV Artists Association (CINTAA) is actively seeking to address the allegations against members of the industry, Shilpa has alleged that in her case, she got no such help.
“Mere waqt toh few artists ne mujhe toh bolne hi nahi dia tha. I had a fight – I fought my battle alone. Abhi jo bhi ho raha hai that CINTAA thing is all bullshit.”
A lot of what Shilpa Shinde has put forth in her views has proven true over the years, when countless women have made similar allegations against men in power, and nothing has come of it. However, one cannot deny that the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements and social media are giving women from all walks of life the courage to speak up about their traumas.
Is it prudent to dismiss the movements as ineffective in the long run already? Definitely not yet. But we mustn’t let the momentum die, that’s for sure. Supporting the survivors by believing in them, putting the accused men under investigation, and taking legal recourse are the only steps that can help bring this revolution to fruition.