Tanushree Dutta’s charges of sexual harassment against veteran actor Nana Patekar have shaken Bollywood. While initially, actors Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan refrained from making any statements, support began to pour in for Tanushree.
Actor and director Farhan Akhtar was the first to put out a statement backing Tanushree. Retweeting journalist Janice Sequiera’s Twitter thread, in which she said she was present at the time of the incident and backed Tanushree’s version of events, he tweeted: “Her courage should be admired, not her intention questioned.”
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
After Farhan’s tweet, several other members of the film industry found their voice. Most of them retweeted Janice’s Twitter thread.
It hurts to be #TanushreeDutta rn. 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 didn’t back down-takes a special courage to be #TanushreeDutta.
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) September 27, 2018
Agreed..the world needs to #BelieveSurviviors https://t.co/ia82UsCkkq
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) September 28, 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) September 28, 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) September 28, 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) September 28, 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) September 28, 2018
Tanushree Datta had alleged that Nana Patekar had sexually harassed her on the sets of the 2009 Hindi film Horn Ok Pleassss. She was shooting what was supposed to be her solo song (later performed by Rakhi Sawant) when Nana Patekar was on set. Tanushree alleged that he pulled her by her arms, tried to teach her the dance steps and even got an “intimate” step added to the choreography just so that he could touch her.
In an exclusive interview to DNA, Tanushree has also levelled allegations of inappropriate behaviour against director Vivek Agnihotri. In the interview, Tanushree states that the incident took place during the shoot of the 2005 movie, Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets.
She narrates that her co-actor in the movie, actor Irrfan Khan, was shooting a solo scene and it was a close-up of the actor. “This guy (Vivek Agnihotri) wanted me to give cues to an actor (Irrfan Khan). It was an actor's close-up. It was not even my shot. I was not even going to be in the shot. It was the actor's close-up and he had to just look at something and give expressions. This director, he told me, ‘Jao jaake kapde utaar ke naacho, usko cues do (Take off your clothes and dance, give him cues)’,” Tanushree told DNA.
After the director’s statement, Tanushree said that Irrfan reprimanded the director.
“He just told the director, 'What are you talking about? I can give my closeup. Mujhe acting aati hai (I know how to act).’ Suneil Shetty also spoke up. He was also there; he heard it and he got offended by it. He was like, 'Main aayun kya wahaan cues dene ke liye (Should I come there to give the cues)?’ Yeah, of course, there are good people in the industry. Both, Irrfan Khan and Suniel Shetty spoke up. Suneil scolded that guy,” Tanushree added.
Meanwhile, according to news agency ANI, Nana Patekar will be sending a legal notice to Tanushree Dutta demanding an apology from her.
“We are in the process of sending a legal notice to Tanushree Dutta, as she has made false allegations and has spoken untruths. We will send the notice later today (Friday) which will be basically a notice seeking apology for her statements making allegations,” Nana Patekar’s lawyer Rajendra Shirodkar told ANI.