Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap who is braving a storm due to a legal battle with his former partner and director Vikas Bahl said that the #MeToo movement has provided an outlet to women and given voice to years of anger and pent-up emotions. Bahl who was a partner and co-founder at the erstwhile Phantom Films was accused of sexual harassment by an employee of the company. In the wake of his misconduct the production house that was started by Kashyap, Bahl, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena had to be dissolved.
Kashyap in an interview said that there is a need to understand and grow up to the movement which has taken the country by storm. Kashyap, when asked about the #MeToo movement, said, “I cannot talk much. Because at this moment whatever I say may be misconstrued or can be taken in any which way and can be used here (in this case). All these years of my silence (was) to protect one person, the victim. I will take the consequences and I have been taking the consequences. I will take the consequences and I have voluntarily taken consequences and stepped back from the work. I will not explain my actions. My priority is something else.”
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Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap leaving Bombay High Court[/caption]
Talking about the victim he said that his priority is her peace. The woman filed an affidavit on Thursday stating that she stands by her allegations against Bahl but does not want to pursue the case further. She had earlier only submitted a statement and was unwilling to file an affidavit. Bahl, on the other hand, has filed a case against Kashyap, Motwane, and Mantena to refrain from speaking to the media or posting on social media about the alleged case. He is also seeking damages of Rs 10 crore in a defamation suit against Kashyap and Motwane.
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Vikas Bahl[/caption]
The #MeToo movement which started after Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment on a film set gave courage to several women to come forward and name their harassers. The movement has taken Bollywood by storm and has even percolated to corporate houses.
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