Bollywood reacts to Tanushree Dutta's sexual harassment claims against Nana Patekar

Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Twinkle Khanna among many others have come out in support of Dutta

Bollywood celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar and Hansal Mehta among many others have come out in support of the Aashiq Banaya Aapne star 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 IANS, 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.

Here's what the celebrities have tweeted:

 

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.

"This thread is very telling. Janice (Sequeira, who at that time was with a news channel) was there at the time of the incident being debated today. Even when Tanushree Dutta had career concerns to keep quiet 10 years ago, she did not. And her story has not changed now. Her courage should be admired, not her intention questioned," Farhan said.

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) September 27, 2018

Priyanka Chopra responded to Farhan's tweet and wrote, "Agreed..the world needs to believe survivors."

Agreed..the world needs to #BelieveSurviviors https://t.co/ia82UsCkkq

— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) September 28, 2018

"I believe Tanushree Dutta and Janice recollection of the account," Sonam Kapoor said. "Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it’s up to us to stand together."

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) September 28, 2018

Love Sonia star Richa Chadha wrote that "It hurts to be Tanushree Dutta right now. To be alone, questioned. No woman wants publicity that opens the floodgates of trolling and insensitivity. What happened to her on set was intimidation. Her only fault was she did not back down -- (that) takes a special courage to be Tanushree Dutta."

https://twitter.com/RichaChadha/status/1045368162387206145

The Veere Di Wedding actor Swara Bhasker re-tweeted a series of posts and wrote: "This is a 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."

#IBelieveYouTanushreeDutta https://t.co/slMxDwcGWx

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 27, 2018

Producer, author and wife of actor Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna tweeted, "Please read this thread before judging or shaming Tanushree Dutta - 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!"

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) September 28, 2018

Film-maker Hansal Mehta tweeted, "India in general does not have a conducive work environment. Mental harassment, abuse and predatorial behaviour by people in positions of power are prevalent and considered perks of being in power. Years of oppression and colonial rule have permanently altered our DNA."

India in general does not have a conducive work environment. Mental harassment, abuse and predatorial behaviour by people in positions of power are prevalent and considered perks of being in power. Years of oppression and colonial rule have permanently altered our DNA.

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) September 28, 2018

Janice Sequeira, who was working as Assistant Director of aforementioned film, on Wednesday tweeted a thread recalling the unsavoury episode saying "some incidents that take place even a decade ago remain fresh in your memory. What happened with Tanushree is one such incident.

Some incidents that take place even a decade ago remain fresh in your memory. What happened with #TanushreeDutta on the sets of “Horn Ok Please” is one such incident - I was there. #NanaPatekar

[THREAD]

— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018

She said she had seen how the actor was visibly upset about something on the sets while Nana, choreographer Ganesh Acharya and the producer huddled around.

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) September 26, 2018

She said, "Amidst this chaos, I got hold of #NanaPatekar. All he said was, "Meri beti jaisi hai (She's like my daughter)", which didn't really make any sense at that point." It was only later that she realised.

Out of nowhere, goons turned up and began banging against the vanity van door. I was told the producers had called them to set. Cops arrived. Amidst this chaos, I got hold of #NanaPatekar. All he said was, “Meri beti jaisi hai”, which didn’t really make any sense at that point.

— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018

Sequeira said, "The chat I had with Dutta hours after the incident was identical to the account she's come out with now. How could a person's version remain the same a decade later if there wasn't any truth to it? (Our chat was off-the-record, even though she went on to give interviews later.)

The chat I had with Dutta hours after the incident was identical to the account she’s come out with now. How could a person’s version remain the same a decade later if there wasn’t any truth to it?

[Our chat was off-the-record, even though she went on to give interviews later.]

— Janice Sequeira (@janiceseq85) September 26, 2018

Nana on Thursday said to a news channel, "What can I do about what one says? You tell me. What does it mean by sexual harrassment."

In a shock to many of his fans and supporters, megastar Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday dodged commenting on the episode saying,  "Neither am I Tanushree, nor am I Nana," which invited trolls galore.

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