#MeToo In Bollywood: B-Town Stars Stand With Tanushree Dutta

#MeToo In Bollywood: B-Town Stars Stand With Tanushree Dutta

Actor Tanushree Dutta recently gave an interview recounting an incident that happened almost a decade ago. Tanushree alleged that Nana Patekar misbehaved with her on the sets of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss. She reported the episode back then as well but was silenced as no one supported her claims.

Tanushree Dutta, who now resides in the US, is in India visiting her family and has opened up about the incident once again. Some are calling this the start of India’s #MeToo movement but not many from Bollywood have come forward in support of Tanushree.

Bollywood celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, and Hansal Mehta among many others have come out in support of actress Tanushree Dutta, who has spoken up about her sexual harassment at the hands of veteran actor Nana Patekar on a film set a decade ago.

Tanushree, a former beauty queen, who had first raised the allegation against the actor in 2008, brought the spotlight once again on her unpleasant experience of working with Nana during the shooting of "Horn 'Ok' Pleassss", in a recent interview. While speaking to the media, Tanushree said it was because of Nana's powerful position as a National Award winning actor that her voice had remained suppressed for so long.

Quoting journalist Janice Sequeira’s Twitter thread where she corroborates Tanushree’s story, Farhan Akhtar wrote on Twitter, “This thread is very telling. @janiceseq85 was there at the time of the incident being debated today. Even when #TanushreeDutta had career concerns to keep quiet 10 years ago she did not & her story hasn’t changed now. Her courage should be admired, not her intention questioned.”

https://twitter.com/FarOutAkhtar/status/1045357336406052864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1045528195745947648&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Fentertainment%2Fbollywood%2Ftanushree-dutta-nana-patekar-controversy-bollywood-reactions-5377738%2F

Farhan Akhtar, who has launched a social campaign Men Against Rape and Discrimination or MARD in 2013, re-tweeted a string of posts by an eyewitness about the details of Tanushree's ordeal. Priyanka Chopra replied on Farhan Akhtar’s tweet and wrote, “Agreed..the world needs to #BelieveSurviviors.”

https://twitter.com/priyankachopra/status/1045528195745947648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1045528195745947648&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Fentertainment%2Fbollywood%2Ftanushree-dutta-nana-patekar-controversy-bollywood-reactions-5377738%2F

Producer and actor Twinkle Khanna also retweeted Janice Sequeira’s Twitter thread and wrote, “Please read this thread before judging or shaming #TanushreeDutta a working environment without harassment and intimidation is a fundamental right and by speaking up this brave woman helps pave the way towards that very goal for all of us!”

https://twitter.com/mrsfunnybones/status/1045533630569820160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1045533630569820160&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndtv.com%2Fentertainment%2Ffor-brave-tanushree-dutta-supportive-tweets-from-twinkle-khanna-priyanka-chopra-and-others-1923573

Director Hansal Mehta tweeted, “Will this also die a natural death with no formal complaint, no proper investigation and no punitive action against the predator if he is found guilty? Honestly, I am cynical about the outcome. These offenders go scot free because our outrage is short-lived. #TanushreeDutta”

Actor Richa Chadha applauded Tanushree Dutta’s courage and wrote, “It hurts to be #TanushreeDutta rn. To be alone, questioned. No woman wants the publicity that opens the floodgates of trolling and insensitivity. What happened to her on set was intimidation. Her only fault was she didn’t back down-takes a special courage to be #TanushreeDutta.”

https://twitter.com/RichaChadha/status/1045368162387206145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1045368162387206145&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndtv.com%2Fentertainment%2Ffor-brave-tanushree-dutta-supportive-tweets-from-twinkle-khanna-priyanka-chopra-and-others-1923573

Actor Swara Bhaskar posted this video on Twitter with the caption, “#IBelieveYouTanushreeDutta.”

https://twitter.com/ReallySwara/status/1045374452610084865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1045374452610084865&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Findianexpress.com%2Farticle%2Fentertainment%2Fbollywood%2Ftanushree-dutta-nana-patekar-controversy-bollywood-reactions-5377738%2F

At the trailer launch of Thugs of Hindostan on Friday, Amitabh Bachchan was asked about the same episode but his reply was, “Na toh Mera naam Tanushree hai aur na hi Nana Patekar, kaise uttar du aapko iss sawal ka? (Neither my name is Tanushree, nor is it Nana Patekar so how can I answer your question?”

When the same question was asked to Aamir Khan, he replied, “I think without knowing the veracity of something or the details of something, I don’t think I can comment, it’s not right for me. But I would like to say that whenever something like this happens, it’s really sad, now if this has happened or not is for people to investigate.”

Tanushree Dutta gave many interviews about the alleged incident back in 2008 as well. In a recent interview, she also talks about the chivalry of actors like Irrfan Khan and Suniel Shetty and how they stood up for her on a different film set.

Whereas, Nana Patekar, speaking to the media and asked, "What do you mean, sexual harassment?" and said he is considering legal action against Tanushree Dutta.

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