We’ve finally come across the perfect definition of consent and no prizes for guessing the name of the person, who enlightened us with it. Karan Johar, guys! On his radio show Calling Karan, the filmmaker explained the “math” in the wake of the #MeToo movement that has encompassed the nation since September.
“Sex minus consent equals sexual harassment! That’s the math, and it can’t be any simpler. And hence, it’s really important to keep asking the question, and always respect the answer,” Karan said on the show. Someone said it. Phew!
[caption id="attachment_150072" align="aligncenter" width="600"] File photo of Karan Johar.[/caption]
In fact, Karan also stressed on the “basics” of consent – something that everybody needs to read.
"So how do you get consent? You ask for it! You have to ask, 'Are you okay with this?' or 'Do you want to do this'. It's important for people to understand both the verbal as well as the non-verbal communication they get from someone they’re with. These are the basics; basics that we often tend to forget. When you come close to someone when you’re about to get intimate, how can you not ask for consent?” Karan added.
While speaking on the subject, Karan also explained that it is extremely important to respect boundaries and that is when the role of consent becomes significant. The filmmaker also listed things that are not cool.
"Sending someone pictures of your private parts is also not cool. Kissing someone or touching them inappropriately while they’re drunk, is not cool. Persisting with flirtatious texts, even after someone has explicitly expressed discomfort, is definitely not cool. You must respect the boundaries that others set for you, and that’s precisely what you ask for consent, and always respect the answer,” Karan added.
After making quite an impact in the West, the #MeToo wave has swept into Bollywood and beyond, following Tanushree Dutta recounting an unpleasant episode with veteran actor Nana Patekar on the sets of Horn 'OK' Pleassss in 2008.