Days after actress Tanushree Dutta's sexual harassment allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar created a whirlwind, a gamut of stars like Sonam Kapoor, Twinkle Khanna, Vir Das and Anurag Kashyap have spoken out strongly in support of the former beauty queen and a safer working environment for women.
Tanushree had first raised the allegation against the actor in 2008. She brought the spotlight once again on her unpleasant experience of working with Nana during the shooting of Horn Ok Pleassss, in a recent interview.
Nana, 67, on Thursday denied all allegations and said: "What can I do about what one says? You tell me. What does it mean by sexual harassment."
While veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday chose to steer clear from commenting on the controversy, drawing flak from the social media world, a string of celebrities on Friday raised their voice.
Here's what they wrote:
Sonam Kapoor: I believe #TanushreeDatta and @janiceseq85 recollection of the account. Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it’s upto us to stand together.
https://twitter.com/sonamakapoor/status/1045581159994814465
Actress Richa Chadha wrote: "It hurts to be Tanushree Dutta right now. To be alone, questioned. No woman wants publicity that opens the floodgates of trolling and insensitivity. What happened to her on set was intimidation. Her only fault was she did not back down -- (that) takes a special courage to be Tanushree Dutta."
https://twitter.com/RichaChadha/status/1045368162387206145
Filmmaker Hansal Mehta tweeted: "India in general does not have a conducive work environment. Mental harassment, abuse and predatorial behaviour by people in positions of power are prevalent and considered perks of being in power. Years of oppression and colonial rule have permanently altered our DNA."
https://twitter.com/mehtahansal/status/1045496754135650304
Several celebrities reference Sequeira's Twitter thread in which she recalled the incident as a cub reporter in Mumbai a decade ago.
"Some incidents that take place even a decade ago remain fresh in your memory. What happened with Tanushree is one such incident," she wrote, before narrating her side of the story.
https://twitter.com/janiceseq85/status/1044859767993364483
Producer-author Twinkle Khanna also shared Sequeira's posts and tweeted: "Please read this thread before judging or shaming Tanushree Dutta -- a working environment without harassment and intimidation is a fundamental right and by speaking up this brave woman helps pave the way towards that very goal for all of us!"
https://twitter.com/mrsfunnybones/status/1045533630569820160
Actress Parineeti Chopra wrote: "Survivors are survivors because they have dealt with something and come out on the other side. So believe them, respect them."
https://twitter.com/ParineetiChopra/status/1045595533795102720
Urging Twitterati to read Sequeira's thread, Konkona Sensharma wrote: "We all know the reality of the power imbalance that exists in the workplace. Let us encourage these voices instead of shaming them so that others may have the strength to come forward."
https://twitter.com/konkonas/status/1045603722515165184
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has also raised his voice and said "people should stop the questioning of intention of Tanushree Dutta because there is a witness account of what happened".
https://twitter.com/anuragkashyap72/status/1045589125649375232
Comedian-actor Vir Das wrote: "For men, a big part of the #MeToo movement is listening to women tell their story. Supporting them with belief. Tanushree Dutta is telling hers. Be a good man, shut your mouth, and listen to it. There are many many more like it in our industry. And they deserve to be heard.
https://twitter.com/thevirdas/status/1045569955079565312
"An actor's professional choices should not dictate how they get treated in the work place. All work places must be safe and fair. If you're bringing up an actor's filmography to justify the harassment they faced.... You are a piece of sh*t," he added.
https://twitter.com/thevirdas/status/1045582536330682368
.jpg)
.jpg)
