I was three when I was first assaulted. My best friend was fifteen when she was raped. My roommate was 22 when her boss grabbed her butt in office. My sister was nine when she was eve-teased on the streets. My mother was 20 when she was molested by her own cousin. My aunt was 40 when she was raped by her husband. We all stand together holding hands, heads bowed down, and tears brimming our eyes as victims of a system that has failed each one of us. We weep because #MeToo aren’t just words on a screen, they are very real and they’re our stories.
Today, we stand with Tanushree Dutta who is trying to tell her story.
Some days ago, Tanushree Dutta alleged that her then co-actor Nana Patekar harassed her while shooting for the film Horn OK Pleassss. The incident happened in 2008 – she said that he touched her inappropriately during the shoot of a dance number. After she left the set with her parents, her car was attacked by goons and was further troubled.
She went on to do interviews and tried to tell her story; she even tried lodging complaints with the police, however that too led to more harassment for her and her family. She added that it was a known secret in the industry, people supported her from behind the scenes but everyone refused to come out in public and lend her support.
Ten years later, Tanushree is still fighting for justice. After the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, things have become more open, women are coming out by the millions and sharing their stories, but unfortunately Bollywood has stayed mum. Until now.
Journalist Janice Sequera, anchor of the show Social Media Star, came out in support of the actor and backed her allegations. An eye-witness to Tanushree’s horror, she recounted that she was still young in the circuit but was there and shared a thread on Twitter about it.
I was a cub reporter in 2008, assigned by AajTak and Headlines Today to cover the BTS of a song being shot for this film. When I arrived, I was told shooting had been stalled because the actress, #TanushreeDutta was “being difficult”. #NanaPatekar
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) 26 September 2018
A while later, shooting resumed. Tanushree resumed work, and a couple shots later, #NanaPatekar joined her. Not long after that, Tanushree walked off set. Shooting halted again. She locked herself in her vanity van, refusing to come out.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) 26 September 2018
Eventually, Tanushree’s parents arrived to pick her up. Her car was attacked, the windshield broken. I tried to get in touch with Tanushree to get her version of events. Around midnight, she asked me to come to her place. In tears, she narrated what really happened. #NanaPatekar
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) 26 September 2018
Later, she said, a lewd dance step was introduced on the insistence of #NanaPatekar, so he could touch her inappropriately. That’s where alarm bells rang, and Tanushree decided to walk off set. What she didn’t expect was the aggression shown by the producers after.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) 26 September 2018
For anyone who’s either going to be ignoring or downplaying Dutta’s account as a desperate call for attention and question why she didn’t speak out earlier – she did. Interviews by Dutta were followed by a press conference by #NanaPatekar where she was branded “unprofessional”.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) 26 September 2018
Things aren’t the same anymore (even though, they aren’t exactly different either). The #MeToo movement has encouraged women to come out and speak about sexual misconduct in the West. If it’s, in turn, inspiring women in India to speak out, we need to find a way to encourage it.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) 26 September 2018
We all know there are hundreds and thousands of women who are too afraid to speak out against sexual assault and misconduct, lest they be called “unprofessional”. They will only speak up if we appreciate – even laud – the courage of #TanushreeDutta, and not look the other way.
— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) 26 September 2018
Another eye witness, Shyni Shetty came forward on Twitter and collaborated with the story as she was the assisant director on the film.
Everything in this thread happened exactly the way it’s written. It was my first film as an AD. I was proud of what you did then, @TanushreeDutta and I’m proud of you today. https://t.co/5IX01qn0nb
— Shyni Shetty (@SceneSorted) 27 September 2018
Post Dutta’s allegations, Bollywood stars took to Twitter to stand strong with her. From Twinkle Khanna and Sonam Kapoor to Priyanka Chopra and Anurag Kashyap, all said words of encouragement.
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://t.co/Ola3MNdmtS
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) 27 September 2018
This is is long thread, but one that MUST be read…. lots of clues here as to why Bollywood’s #MeToo moment is so far away. Because we don’t want to hear these voices. https://t.co/fJx2dKt6BN
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) 26 September 2018
Agreed..the world needs to #BelieveSurviviors https://t.co/ia82UsCkkq
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) 28 September 2018
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://t.co/f8Nj9YWRvE
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) 28 September 2018
I believe #TanushreeDatta and @janiceseq85 recollection of the account. Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it’s upto us to stand together. https://t.co/sF3mS5o1P8
— Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) 28 September 2018
I agree too. Survivors are survivors because they have dealt with something horrible and come out on the other side. So believe them, respect them. @janiceseq85 #TanushreeDutta
— Parineeti Chopra (@ParineetiChopra) 28 September 2018
If my previous tweet sounds vague let me clarify it. This should stop the questioning of intention of Tanushree Datta because there is a witness account of what happened and @janiceseq85 is as credible as the come .
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) 28 September 2018
Heartening to see support for #TanushreeDutta & @janiceseq85 & @SceneSorted who corroborated her story. But there will only be lasting impact if there are consequences for the perpetrators. Hope the powers that be are listening. It’s a watershed moment!
— Anupama Chopra (@anupamachopra) 28 September 2018
If a women speaks out about abuse, you listen. Even if it’s on her deathbed 50 years after the incident,you listen. If you ask why she didn’t speak earlier or you rush to dismiss her, the problem is with you. There will be investigation; but first, listen. Period. #TanushreeDutta
— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) 28 September 2018
This isn’t limited to Bollywood or India. In the US too, Christine Blasey Ford narrated a gut-wrentching story of assault by Brett Kavanaugh – a US Supreme Court nominee. She recounted the details she could remember and stood tall in front of the Senate where she was questioned about everything. For many, it was traumatic to see a victim recounting what was probably one of the hardest days of her life.
These two news stories that are doing the rounds need to be heard. These incidents prove again that it’s difficult to be a woman in this world.
We walk out on the streets, and people stare. We ride on the buses and people grab us. We work in an office and we are targeted for being bossy or bitchy. They look at us, they masturbate at us, they grab us and we say ‘no’, our words go unheard. And then, it’s our fault – for wearing something, for drinking something, for going out, for breathing.
Sometimes, being a woman makes me want to scream.
But looking at the changing winds, hearing both these women, I’ve realised that we have to fight it. More power to these two ladies for standing up to their perpetrators and taking us one step closer to the goal of equality.
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