The ongoing #me too movement in Bollywood have successfully unmasked some sexual predators within the industry and it ain’t stopping any soon. Initiated by Tanushree Dutta’s allegations of sexual harassment against veteran actor Nana Patekar, the movement has allowed several women acquire the confidence and speak up about their traumatic experiences at work.
Renowned personalities like Vikas Bahl, Rajat Kapoor, and Alok Nath have all been brought under the scanner for their shameful sexual behavior with women. And on October 6th, we saw another addition to the list in the name of popular singer Kailash Kher.
Kher, who is responsible for iconic chartbusters like ‘Allah Ke Bande’, ‘Teri Deewani’ and ‘Kaise Batayein’, was held guilty of sexual misconduct by Natasha Hemrajani, a female photojournalist.
According to Natasha, Kailash Kher kept putting his hand on her thighs intentionally, when she went to his home for an interview in 2006.
And now, doubling the accusations on the folk-influenced singer, musician Sona Mohapatra has revealed her uncomfortable encounter with the man.
Narrating the episode, Sona mentioned that she had met the Kailash Kher at Prithvi Cafe to talk about a concert where both their bands were supposed to perform. According to the female vocalist, the 45-year-old Kher kept his hand on her thigh and said, “you are so beautiful”. Not only that but Kailash added, “feel so good that a ‘musician got you’ (Ram) not an actor.”
(1) I met Kailash for coffee in Prithvi Café to discuss a forthcoming concert where both our bands were playing & after the usual, a hand on my thigh with lines likes, your so beautiful, feel so good that a ‘musician got you’ (Ram) not an actor. I left not soon after. (1) https://t.co/Cfz8Hf4sdP
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) October 9, 2018
In her series of tweets, Sona claimed that even after parting ways from the cafe, Kailash did not stop disturbing her. On her way to Dhaka, he tried to reach her on phone several times. When she refused to pick up the call, Kailash got hold of her through the organizers and asked her to meet him in his room, skipping the soundcheck.
(2) That did not deter Kailash Kher though. On landing in Dhaka & on my way to the venue with the organisers, keeps calling me & when I don’t pick up, calls the organisers phone to get through to me & asks me to ‘skip’ the soundcheck & join him in his room instead to ‘catch up’ https://t.co/beBehXBLup
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) October 9, 2018
3)The fact that Kailash had sung in my studios & for many projects in which I was the producer & knew me to be as strong as i am or that he had only recently taken a favour from my partner @RamSampathLive to create a personal track for him didn’t stop him. #TheHubris of such #men https://t.co/GLHvCsIPDR
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) October 9, 2018
A furious Sona Mohapatra, who is known for standing up for the right, also advised Kher to start apologising to the ‘countless’ women he has harassed.
How many women will you apologise to Kailash Kher??? Start now. Will take a lifetime. (4) 🤘🏾🔴 https://t.co/yZimwUshoE
— Sona Mohapatra (@sonamohapatra) October 9, 2018
It is outright shameful that we are literally waking up to a case of sexual abuse each an every day. However, the #metoo movement has definitely exposed the prevailing maltreatment of women within the industry and has paved the way for a new dawn. We hope all the people guilty of such crude behavior gets the deserved punishment.