We often hear about the seamy underbelly of Bollywood and how struggling actors looking for a break have to resort to all sorts of compromises just to get their foot in the door. However allegations of the existence of the infamous casting couch of Bollywood have always been brushed aside or shrouded in secrecy. What happened in Hollywood recently has triggered some much needed conversation around sexual harassment in Bollywood.
This October we saw the name Harvey Weinstein splashed across international headlines. The man had been a sexual predator for years and had assaulted and harassed many women using his position of power to keep his activities hidden. His expulsion from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was not only cheered by people the world over, it also started a much needed conversation around sexual harassment and the silence that typically surrounds this phenomenon.
Former actress and film producer Pooja Bhatt spoke out about sexual harassment in Bollywood; saying that the Hindi film industry was full of such Harvey Weinsteins. However she also expressed the view that action would never be taken here as it was in Hollywood; that sexual predators here would continue to be protected and their actions shrouded in silence.
Sexual abuse by film directors, a producer who has a room with only a bed in it where he has story sessions, an A-lister who lounges around in his underwear and an actor director who boasts about how well endowed he is – these are some of the stories about sexual harassment out of Bollywood. However many more stories are never heard; these suggest that there is a systemic and widespread problem relating to sexual abuse in Bollywood. Many have suggested that there is a culture of misogyny in Bollywood and that no one is speaking about it.
Film director Vikas Bahl was recently accused of sexual misconduct. The CEO of entertainment company TVF was similarly accused by multiple women. In the past, actor Preeti Jain had accused Madhur Bhandarkar of rape in exchange for a film role. Actors such as Tisca Chopra, Kangana Ranaut, Radhika Apte and Kalki Koechlin have also spoken about the existence of the casting couch; of roles, jobs or contacts being offered in exchange for sexual favors.
Even male actors such as Ayushmaan Khurana and Ranveer Singh have spoken about the casting couch; testifying not only to its existence in the industry but also how they themselves were propositioned by men in positions of power.
However even in the few instances when victims of sexual abuse do come forward with their complaints there are few systems of investigation and redressal in place for them. The men responsible either get away with their misdemeanors or crimes or are barely impacted – they are rarely punished and no suffer particular career setback either. There is the general acceptance of things as they are which translates into tacit approval. This perpetuates the flagrant misuse of power by those in positions of influence and authority.
The problem is that many people simply don’t see anything wrong with the way things are; explaining it away as a give and take situation when sex is demanded in return for opportunities or jobs or access to persons of import in the industry. There is the nudge-nudge wink-wink acceptance that ‘boys will be boys’ – industry members seeing nothing wrong with sexual predators finding prey where they may.
When victims of abuse do come forward they are disbelieved, ridiculed and met with disfavor; they may not find jobs in the industry again for ‘telling on’ the powerful or for calling out predatory behavior. There are many who would protect status quo; those who look to buck the trend invariably face an uphill struggle. So if any of us are waiting for Bollywood’s Weinstein moment, we have a long wait.
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