I don't think a campaign will bring a change in mindset; we're not ready for that yet: Sushmita Sen on MeToo

By Vandana Srivastawa

on October 08, 2018

The #MeToo movement has finally arrived in India and women across industries are coming forward to narrate their horrific encounter with sexual harassment. They are naming, shaming and blaming their perpetrators and are no longer ashamed and blaming themselves for being victims and survivors. Many celebrities have also come forward to support and speak out on the issue. Former Miss Universe, Sushmita Sen who is well known for her outspokenness said during an interview to a portal that she doesn’t think any movement can change the mindset of people. She said that it is a far deeper thing and we are not ready for it as yet.

Speaking about the MeToo movement Sushmita said, “I was reading an interview of Tanushree Dutta this morning and she is right that it isn’t about the coming of #MeToo campaign. By all means, it will come and it will go. It is far deeper. It’s a mindset. To change that, you’re looking at an entirely new generation being raised and being educated to believe in their rights and responsibilities. So, I don’t think a campaign will do it. We’re not ready for that yet.”

[caption id="attachment_147663" align="aligncenter" width="493"] Sushmita Sen[/caption]

She was also asked about Amitabh Bachchan’s stoic silence on the issue, and she said, “I don’t like to speak about someone else because everybody has their own reasons for it. But as far as I am concerned, I think it’s time we stop treating everything as a problem of a sector, it is a basic human right. To live a dignified life and that concerns everyone. It isn’t just about film industry because you are talking about an actor, it isn’t about the person from the media industry because it's only related to the media. Women exist in all sectors today and thank god for that. Their safety and their integrity is very much everyone’s responsibility."

It was Tanushree Dutta who opened a can of worms when she accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment and intimidation on the sets of the 2008 film Horn Ok Pleasss. Soon, director Vikas Bahl was also accused of sexual harassment which led to the dissolution of Phantom Films. Standup comedian Utsav Chakraborty of AIB has also been accused of sending lewd pictures and remarks to women including minors.

Apparently, founder and CEO of AIB Tanmay Bhat knew about the allegations but did not do anything about it. Gursimran Khamba, another founder of AIB has also been accused of sexual misconduct. Today, the comedy group issued a statement wherein Tanmay has stepped away and Khamba has been asked to go on a leave of absence. Even Hrithik Roshan who is the lead star of Vikas’s upcoming film Super 30 issued a statement that he will not work with anyone accused of such grave misconduct and urged producers to take a stand.