Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao issue joint statement on #MeToo; condemn sexual misconduct

By Vandana Srivastawa

on October 10, 2018

The recent #MeToo storm that is raging the Bollywood as well as the media industry has made many people’s long-buried skeletons come tumbling out of their closets. Actress and former Miss India Universe Tanushree Dutta opened a Pandora’s Box when she accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment and intimidation on the sets of a film.

Close on her heels several women including TV producer and writer Vinta Nanda came out and accused Alok Nath of rape and harassment. It also came to light that director Vikas Bahl had sexually harassed a female employee at Phantom Films which ultimately dissolved the production house. Now Aamir Khan and wife Kiran Rao have also issued a statement saying that their production house has a zero-tolerance policy regarding sexual misconduct.

[caption id="attachment_148485" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao statement on sexual misconduct[/caption]

The #MeToo movement has finally gained steam in India and official bodies like CINTAA, Maharashtra State Commission for Women, National Commission for Women as well as the Producers’ Guild have come forward to ensure that proper steps are taken and the perpetrators are given due punishment if proved guilty. In this wake, today, Aamir and Kiran issued a statement supporting the #MeToo movement and have revealed that they were supposed to start work with one of the people named as an offender but have now decided to not work with him as the matter is subjudice.

[caption id="attachment_116011" align="aligncenter" width="759"] Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao[/caption]

Apparently, the Producers Guild of India decided to set up a special committee to support the #MeToo cause, and Aamir and Kiran attended a meeting to discuss the steps that can be taken to make the industry a safer place for women. Kiran has been made a part of the special committee.

Recently, Hrithik Roshan who is the lead of Vikas Bahl directed film Super 30 also issued a statement saying that he would not like to work with someone who has been accused of "such grave misconduct” and urged producers to take a harsh step against him.