'The #MeToo movement cannot be dismissed', says Mahesh Bhatt

The  'MeToo' movement in Bollywood that started with former actress Tanushree Dutta's allegations against veteran actor Nana Patekar, has gained momentum in the recent days as several others have now come out and spoken about similar experiences. In one of the latest revelations, producer of the popular 90s show, Vinta Nanda accused actor Alok Nath of alleged rape and brutality. Nanda, in an elaborate Facebook post, narrated the details of the horrific incident that happened with her back in the 90s. Although, Nanda did not name the predator she did call him the 'TV actor of the decade' and so the internet was quick enough to connect the dots. Shortly after, Alok Nath became an instant trend, with several calling for prosecution. In a string of tweets, several Bollywood celebrities have about the matter calling it 'heart wrenching' and 'terrifying'.

Renowned filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt also extended his views on the ongoing #Me Too campaign. In a statement, he said, "An Indian woman is different, she is standing up and saying I am much bigger than what you have caged me into, and that's happening in homes, India has changed and the #MeToo movement is an expression of that."

"But as I said, this problem cannot be solved through the court of public opinion or by the courts because these are moral issues, these are issues of our culture, we have to look at ourselves and ask do we really respect women. In the temples, we put our head down and bar down to the Goddess, but on the streets, in your homes and your workplace, you violate them," he added.

Addressing the issue, the director further added, "Unless man confronts his own double standards, and unless he starts correcting his own inner feeling towards women, you can't solve the problem by policing it or you cannot solve the problem by #MeToo movement." 

Bhatt continued saying, "Well now the problem is not restricted to the film industry it is spreading all over, that means the society, being one, the problem is all-pervading. But yes, Entertainment industry should welcome and support woman but also give the person who is accused the right to look upon as innocent till he is proved guilty. But unfortunately in the age of Twitter and Facebook, and trial by the media, so much harm is done that unfortunately if you find that the accusations were not right you'll do irreversible damage. But that doesn't mean that the person should not get up and speak, so, the responsibility is how to handle the case now."

Looking at a broader picture, Bhatt further stated, "I personally feel that the #MeToo movement cannot be dismissed. However, microscopic it may seem, it is a movement of our women who have felt violated. They need to be given respect and you need to listen to them. But it cannot be looked at like the movement of all the woman in India because there is an India which is outside Twitter and Facebook, who perhaps live for this problem, unless their lives are changed, I don't think we'll find a solution for the problem."