PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESS
The #MeToo movement in India has gained momentum in recent days, with more than a dozen complaints of sexual harassment filed against prominent journalists, actors, movie directors, comedians and other public figures.
Imran Khan, who rose to fame with Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, feels grateful that #MeToo has finally come to Bollywood.
“I think it was long long long overdue. There have been times when I wanted to speak out," Khan told The Indian Express. "I was advised to stay quiet because they said people will assume I am trying to grab publicity. They (people) will say I am trying to become relevant and come in the news since my films have not worked well. Time and again, people around me will tell me to not speak up."
PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESSThe actor continued, “There are a lot of things that have happened in front of me and bothered me for years. Even after being aware of so many things, I could not say it out because I somewhere felt no one will support me on it. I cannot name people I am talking about, but I will tell you stories as I know it,” the Luck star said as he began narrating an incident that happened right in front of him.
“Very early in my career, there was a director who was auditioning for the female lead in a film. He made girls do racy photo shoots. These photographs went straight to the director’s personal laptops. These were not costume tests. These were not even used for marketing. So, what was he doing with these photographs?" revealed Khan.
PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESS"Later, he was showing these photos to the three shortlisted actresses and other women on the sets. I found it appalling. It is sexism and definitely an emotional and mental harassment. It was a wrong usage of power. There is a story later that happened with the actress. I hope she speaks of it through the story I am telling, it is her choice,” the Mere Brother Ki Dulhan actor commented.
The 35-year-old star mentioned that he wants to make sure that every girl who has been through such an ordeal is not alone in it.
He said, “These people might not come out in open, but I wanted to stand up and say I support them completely. I cannot be silent about it anymore. My conscience will not allow me to. As a man, I know what it is to say that."
PHOTO: INDIAN EXPRESSKhan further asserted, "I do not want to deal with negative publicity but how these women have come out is brave. I do not want them to feel that men in the industry are not standing by them. I have chosen my words and said what I intended to say. I have been silent for long enough and it makes me feel dirty.”
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