At a time when the world has been reeling under the #MeToo and #TimesUp insinuations and the horrific instances of sexual harassment at workplace, Indian film industry is not left unaffected. However, there have been several instances where women have been harassed and sexually exploited but their voices have never been heard. Filmmaker and actress Pooja Bhatt while speaking at the India Today Conclave East 2018 opened up on the movement and the importance of speaking up.
Pooja also brought up her past relationship and reiterated how she tried to speak up about the abuse she faced in a relationship with an alcoholic boyfriend, and how people reacted at that time. She said, “I was in a relationship with an alcoholic, and he hit me. I spoke up and the industry asked me why I was washing dirty linen in public? But I'm just as vulnerable. Being Mahesh Bhatt's daughter doesn't make it hurt any less. Also, it's unfair to paint every man with the same brush. Women can be worse than men on occasions. We need to do some soul-searching.”
However, the actress is thankful to those who knocked her down and tried to shush her. She said, “I want to say thank you to the people who ravaged and belittled me. Thank you for stripping away my fairytales. It gave me the strength to stand on my own feet and fight. I have been a victim and I am fighting my battle."
She further said that everyone has their reasons for speaking up and not speaking up as for some people it is therapeutic and some speak up to vent out their frustration. However, she asked that are you willing to speak the truth that shakes everything at workplace and homes. Pooja also lent her support to Tanushree Dutta in the ongoing sexual harassment allegations that the latter has levied against Nana Patekar.
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