#Metoo Movement in India | Top 11 Scandals and Controversies

India is witnessing the peak for ‘MeToo movement’ which started with the entertainment industry just like in the US. We are getting shocking updates every other day wherein some of the most eminent personalities are being scandalized and come to limelight for all the wrong reasons. 

The question is, are these the hidden nasty secrets revealed or another negative publicity tactic and controversy? 

To know more, I would suggest you read this full article.

Me too movement

What is 'Me too' Movement?

‘Me too movement’ is a social movement nationally and internationally working on sexual harassment and sexual assault at the workplace. It was spread virally in 2017 in social media to expose issues related to sexual harassment and assaults that are widely prevalent in the workplace particularly.

The Phase ‘Me too’ was used way back in 2006 by an American social activist and community organizer known as Tarana Burke. This gained the limelight when the veteran producer Harvey Weinstein was exposed and accused of sexual harassment by not less than 70 women who receive worldwide rage and criticism. Later this phrase was popularised by famous Hollywood actress Alyssa Milano on twitter in 2017 where she encouraged the victims of sexual harassment to speak up about this hush-hush issue.

Me too Movement in India

Me too movement campaign in India has exposed the hypocrisy and abuse committed by some of the renowned distinguished public figures having ‘big name’ in the film industry as well as politics.

Women across various sectors from entertainment to news and media industry have come out and spoken about sexual harassment, assault, and rape committed in their workplace.

Me too movement campaign in India

Some of the very high ranking personalities who are public figures are found guilty despoiling and messing up a professional work environment for women across various sectors.

According to the latest update is that there seems to be a big concern in the government section regarding the accusation of sexual harassment by accused Union Minister J.M. Akbar by as many as seven women journalists on Wednesday, Oct 10, 2018.

Top 11 Scandals and Controversies

#1. Nana Patekar

Having an experience of 40 years as an actor in film industry bestowed with padmashree which is a title of honor given by Indian government for outstanding contribution in arts and entertainment industry, this actor made some of the outstanding performance in hit films like krantiveer, Tiranga, parinda, prahar, khamoshi, etc. is ranked No 1 in the list. He has been accused to sexually harass a film actress, Tanushree Dutta when she gave a breaking statement on 25 Sept 2018, when she spoke publicly and boldly about her abuse and harassment that she had faced 10 years back while shooting for a film in 2008 called Horn ok, please.

The shocking secret was revealed which triggered the kickstart of the Me too movement in India. Tanushree had accused that Nana Patekar had tried to touch her in the wrong way. He also is charged to conspire with the choreographer to add some hot intimate dance steps during the shoot which made her uncomfortable. Her car was badly damaged and attacked while she was inside her car by an angry mob of people.

Nana patekar, on the other hand, said that he is innocent and addressed her as ‘bachchi’ which means child and said he does not know why she is telling all these. He is innocent and can never think of doing anything like this. While Tanushree has made police complaint regarding this, Nana Patekar had replied with a legal notice for harassment to Tanushree. CINTAA is still investigating this issue.

#2. Vikash Behl

Queen, Shandaar, Urdta Punjab, Bombay Velvet, Super 30’s the director of the film has been accused of sexual harassment and assault during the ‘me too movement’ campaign. He was accused by one of the women crew members of Phantom films that during the promotion of the movie Bombay Velvet this guy raped the woman. She was physically hurt and was on her crutches. He came to drop her till her room and pretended to sleep while he was completely drunk. 

Me too movement controversy

That night he raped that woman who was already physically hurt and in crutches. She had been pleading him to leave but he could not control his lust and continued raping the injured woman. Later he abused her verbally as well and walked off. When the women complaint to Director Anurag Kashyap, he kept silence and no one helped her to get justice. This scandal was exposed during the Me too movement campaign.

#3. Chetan Bhagat

IIT and IIM pass out, a great writer of Novel and writer in Newspapers on social issues is also accused of sexting wrong messages in WhatsApp chat to a woman. Chetan Bhagat has accepted this accusation and asked for forgiveness to the woman concerned in social media. He also said sorry to his wife as per the latest update. That is another controversy exposed during Me too movement investigation.

After days of silence post public apology on me too movement campaign Chetan Bhagat speaks again saying that he is not a harasser, never was or will be in the public platform as per the NDTV report.

#4. Rajat Kapoor

3O years of acting life with famous hit films lie Dil Chahatahe Mulk, Kapoor & Sons, Bheja fry this veteran actor is again accused by 2 women.

One woman-journalist claimed that in 2007 during a telephonic interview Rajat Kapoor asked her about her figure and body statistics. She also said that he asked her if she really looks as sexy as her voice.

Another woman who has accused him of sexual harassment said that 10 years back when she was assisting him for a film, he used to constantly ask her if she knows any available place where he and the particular woman can shoot alone in privacy. She also said that he used to call her again and again and harass her. (Simply unbelievable!)

Me too movement

The latest update on this me too movement controversy and scandal is that Rajat Kapoor had accepted the claim and said sorry to the woman concerned.

#5. Kailash Khair 

Padmashree titleholder this famous singer Kailash Kheer worked in various hit films like Mangal Pandey, Khosla ka Ghoshla, Dang Laga key Haishaa, Bahubahi 2. Photojournalist Natasha Hemrajani said that in 2006 she went to his house to take his interview along with her co-worker. In the entire conversation, he is to constantly put his hand on her thigh again and again during the entire time when she was interviewing him.

#6. Zulfi Sayed 

This famous model-actor and ‘Big Boss’ ex-contestant played as a lead actor in the film called Taj Mahal in 2005. Zulfi Sayed is accused by photojournalist Natasha Hemrajani that she went for a PR even in the cruise line up. She had given her phone to charge in Zulfi’s room. When she went to his room to get the phone she closed the door and did not allow her to get out. He started kissing her but somehow she dodged him and managed to escape from his room and ran for her life. The next day Zulfi told her that it was a mistake and she should forget about what had happened the night before. When this particular episode got exposed in ‘Me too campaign’, where Zulfi seems to maintain his silence.

#7. Kiran Nagarkar

Another shocking ‘me too controversy’ and scandal that has got limelight is about a Mumbai based screenplay writer, novelist, Sai Academy award holder, Kiran Nagarkar, who is accused by 3 women. One woman journalist said that when she went to his house to interview him, he came close, hugged her fingering her bra straps asking her to call him in Skype at night. (OMG!)

Poorva Joshi, an ex-journalist said when she went to take his interview in this room his ambiance was very uncomfortable and he had asked her to hug him. (Can you believe this?)

The third Journalist Shilpi Guhaa said new reporter Aug 2015 during an Interview said he would be free in the evening for the skype interview and put his arms around her and touched her in the wrong way. It was her first experience dealing with such kind of situation and she was very scared to open her mouth and voice it out at that time as she was in shock. (definitely a shock for a woman where she works in an environment where if a woman speaks up she is first trolled and scrutinized before giving her the space to speak up!)

#8. Gursimran Khamba

He is a stand-up comedian in the entertainment industry. According to the accusation of the victim, in 2015-16 on two occasions, he had tried to sexually abuse her and she had to push him to shove him away. He used to call her drunk and abused her verbally over the phone again and again.

He replied that he never forced her for any physical intimation but accepted that his behavior was not appropriate and he is sorry for that. He also accepted that while he was dating someone else, he had suddenly developed feelings for her! (Another Shock!)

According to the NDTV report, he has been sent on leave by AIB (Trade Association for Television) over Me too allegation.

#9. Utsav Chakravarty

Standup comedians, you-tuber Utsav is accused to have sexting inappropriate messages to various women which made them feel uncomfortable and abusive. This got exposed under the 'me too' movement campaign that Utsav, used to chat with women and send them his nude pictures and used to call them harassing them. (heights of perversion if that is true!)

Aditi Mittal another stand-up comedian as also regretted his shameful behavior. According to the NDTV report, Tanmay Bhat who seemed to be aware of this entire mayhem is asked to step away from AIB association. Also, the videos where Utsav was the screen in AIB (Trade Association for Television established in 1993) had been edited and his scenes had been deleted.

#10. Vaira Muththu Ramaswamy

Famous Tamil poet, 7 times winner of National Film fare aware is allegedly accused of sexual harassment at the workplace through Me Too movement campaign. Some of the famous films that he is associated with are Roja, Guru, Thiruvar, Gentleman, Sivaji, and many more.

Me too movement

Several women have accused him of committing sexual assault and abuse and later being threatened and silenced with the use of political power and influence.

#11. Alok Nath 

Maine Pyar kiya, hum saath saath Hai, Hum apke hain kaun this on-screen King of moral values and culture termed as ‘sanskar’ is accused of being exactly opposite in this off-screen real life! (this is the most shocking news for me !)

Vineta Nanda said that 19 years before she was raped by Aloke Nath while she was producing and writing the famous TV no 1 serial that time was known as Tara.

Me too movement

She accused him of being alcoholic, shameless, and abusive who ultimately raped her one day when during a party when he added something in her drink which made her unconscious and easy prey for his lust. (being such an ‘on-scree’ role model of moral value, culture, and ‘sanskar,’ I just could not think of him as off-screen real-life alcoholic pervert and rapist! This is yet another shocking news. Can’t believe this!)

Vineta was silent for 20 years since that experience as she was badly shaken by that bad experience. Alok Nath accused of raping the director Vineta Nanda got exposed during the me too campaign made Cintaa to finally take a stand and send him a notice according to the report on Economic Times on Oct 9, 2018.

So these are the India top 11 accused in Me Too Movement Controversy.

To sum up, my conclusion on the ‘me too controversy’ is that, first we should open our heart and mind and listen to the woman who tries to voice her opinion. Have respect for that first.

Second instead of always victimizing the victim and asking the victim for proofs please accept that no woman would like to talk about sexual abuse committed years ago if that is not true.

What is the use for any woman after all to scandal and expose oneself to the world proclaiming that yes she was abused or raped or molested?

Why on earth a woman would do that to herself? Is it publicity? 

Oh, Come on this mere question seems to be so cheap and I do not want to answer this.

The main question that comes to the mind of many people is why were these women silent for so many years? 

Were they muted by social and political pressure? 

That is yet to get revealed.

Nevertheless, the fact that women have now taken the step to come up and speak up in public definitely needs acknowledgment and support.

That being said I need to state that since I am not completely aware of the entire issue it will be highly inappropriate to comment and label anyone as the culprit in the public platform.

I have made effort to expose the facts that I could gather from social media and news and ultimately time and further investigation on these matters would actually expose the culprits and spoilers of the work environment.

Let me know your take regarding India top 11 accused in MeToo Movement Controversy and what could possibly be done to make the work environment clean and safe for women working.

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Cheers,

Happy Parenting!