This past year has been an incredibly important one for the #MeToo movement in the entirety of the subcontinent.
In Pakistan, the movement seemed to struggle to find firm footing. However, in India, prominent actresses have been quite vocal about how the film industry really operates and how it protects perpetrators of sexual harassment. One of those women who has spoken up is Kangana Ranaut.
Kangana Ranaut has spoken out against the culture of sexual abuse several times.
In an interview once, Kangana said, “I got harassed and I know a lot of people who got harassed. Sometimes you don’t have that liberty to put your career at stake. I do agree that you want to take that promotion but now you want to save the girls who will follow you. If I want to talk about it after six years, you as a society should encourage me. Why would you say, ‘Why now? Are you out of job? You didn’t scream at that time. Where’s the photo? Where’s the video?’ I should be allowed to talk about it (sexual harassment) even from my death bed.”
Kangana has now spoken up about one of Bollywood’s long-buried cases of assault. This time, it’s against Vikas Bahl.
She claims that Vikas, director of her super hit film ‘Queen’ who had previously been accused of sexual harassment by one of his female co-workers, has made her feel uncomfortable quite a lot of times also.
Talking about the incident, she stated:
“I totally believe her. Even though Vikas was married back in 2014 when we were filming Queen. He bragged about having casual sex with a new partner every other day. I don’t judge people and their marriages but you can tell when addiction becomes a sickness. He partied every night and shamed me for sleeping early and not being cool enough.”
The actress went on to recount the times she felt uneasy around him as he would “hold her really tightly” and “smell her hair.”
Vikas Bahl, along with Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena were joint partners of a company named Phantom films. When the female employee accused Bahl of harassment, nobody paid attention to her.
Kangana however, revealed that she even lost out on a few projects after she decided to help the girl who accused Vikas Bahl.
She told India Today: “At that time Vikas had come to me with a script. When I supported the girl, he stopped talking to me. I didn’t mind losing out on a good script and I never called him either. I was determined to say what I felt was right. The matter was pushed under the carpet and I didn’t hear any updates on the same.”
After so many years, Anurag finally spoke up and apologized to that female employee as well as Kangana. Interestingly, Phantom has since been dissolved.
Phantom was a dream, a glorious one and all dreams come to an end . We did our best and we succeeded and we failed. But i know for sure we will come out of this stronger, wiser and will continue to pursue our dreams our own individual ways. We wish each other the best.
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) October 5, 2018
Kangana added, “It’s amusing that after the news of Phantom dissolution many are finding the courage to attack him. Shame on such a society. Go look at yourselves in the mirror, a bunch of cowards, attacking powerless men won’t begin a movement. Either we do it or we don’t. Let’s not be opportunists. If we are a shit society, let’s accept it, at least have that much honesty within yourself. Selective outrage will only serve as entertainment, this will just be tabloid gossip and nothing else.”
After this incident, some people have been bashing her. Some people asked men working with her to be cautious.
Beware all men working around "Kangana Ranaut" .. u might be blamed for ur present actions in near afters 2 to 3 years in future..
— Parvez Choudhari🇮🇳 (@parvezcivil) October 7, 2018
Others called her fake.
Kangana FAKE Ranaut exposed again. What a toxic bitch! pic.twitter.com/RsHYn3Tdir
— Agent R. (@AgentRajveer) October 6, 2018
Kangana Ranaut about #VikasBahl on 2017
Fakest person in the industry.Such a liar !!! https://t.co/6dEFcTgY9D
— Sid Anand Fan Forever (@ragingagain1) October 6, 2018
Some people even called her a hypocrite.
Pic 1: Kangana Ranawat on April 11 , 2017 (before Simran)
Pic 2: Kangana Ranawat on October 6, 2018 (Before Manikarnika which will clash with the directo's next)
Aise hypocrite and evil oppertunist kabhi dekha hai ? pic.twitter.com/cu0SaOq8BU
— Liberated !! (@iNipunK) October 6, 2018
Others reduced her bravery to a mere stunt.
Wow..!
Everytime New Story
1) #AadityaPancholi during #Rajjo
2) #AdhyayanSuman during #RevolverRani
3) #AjayDevgn during #Rangoon
5) #NicholasLafferty during #ILoveNY
5) #hrithikroshan during #SimranNow #VikasBahl & #Manikarnika
Promotion style of #KanganaRanaut
😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/CH6t8kHVhS— Hrithik_Mania🇮🇳 (@HR_Mania17) October 7, 2018
The hate is unreal – but, unfortunately, expected.
This disgusting woman #KanganaRanaut always comes up with SHAMEFUL acts! She can't even respect herself! What does she thinks? Girl lemme tell you a fact you are NOT so sexy or beautiful that every guy who works with you gets attracted or wants something from you👊 @Hrithikdbest https://t.co/EdVWGKnm7N
— Dilip Kumar Fan Club (@Amirmurt) October 7, 2018
However, some people are supporting her completely.
I LOVE LOVE KANGANA. THIS LADY HAS JUST ACCUSED THE DIRECTOR OF HER MOST SUCCESSFUL MOVIE FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT. SHE LOST SOME MAJOR PROJECT BUT STILL SHE DID IT. I AM SO PROUD OF HER. A REAL QUEEN, Y'ALL 😍👑#KanganaRanaut
— Kiran (@KiranRaza01) October 7, 2018
They’re pointing out the flaws in society when it comes to how we perceive harassment.
You still don't get it do you? It's not about Vikas – Kangana. It's more about how people act when some tells about there harassment! pic.twitter.com/9yM7NYUNxb
— poetstar (@sanskriti000) October 7, 2018
Some people are just plain angry.
This mens r just sick,they need check up their penis..do whatever u want but harassing,rape,molest this is not acceptable..for this many good mens r not trusted by women s…plz dont blame the whole gender,blame the person..kangana glad u spoke https://t.co/VRJ72cKp3N
— Deep#Learner@Alive (@DeepWorstboy) October 7, 2018
While others are warning perpetrators that truly, #TimesUp.
#KanganaRanaut is supporting the victim and bashing #VikasBahl for his misconduct. Now trollers are trolling with all their crap mentality, they did the same with @mehtahansal. Don't these paid trollers get that sexual harassment is a serious crime? #TimesUp
— Aparna Das (@AparnaD86) October 7, 2018
Sexual harassment is a very serious topic that needs to be addressed. Also, people need to stop criticizing those who speak about it. Let us know what you think about this whole matter in the comments below.
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Cover image via koimoi.com