'We need to support these brave people for speaking up', says Aditi Rao Hydari

In the wake of the Me Too movement, Bollywood actress Aditi Rao Hydari shared moving post on Twitter on Tuesday. The ‘Padmaavat’ actress wrote,

“Every incident I read about is extremely gut-wrenching... women all living with scars for years feeling there isn't much they can do about it, normalising abuse while their sick perpetrators work freely, protected by the system and their stardom.

This has to stop...we need to come together and support these brave people for speaking up.

#TheTimeIsNow#IBelieveHer

Recently, a journalist friend of mine from the US who's been following #MeTooIndia, called and asked me... "Are you'll doing something about this together?" I wanted to say yes, but I know we aren't there yet...

We may not be there yet, but we can.

We can make it happen... We have to make it happen... The only way to have a breakthrough is if we do it together, giving those who have been wronged, the strength and support to stand up and speak. We need to #StandTogether"

Over the past few weeks, the Me Too movement has gathered immense momentum in India. From members of the entertainment industry to mainstream politics and the media, several alleged victims of sexual harassment raised their voices.

On Monday, in a heart-wrenching post on Facebook, television producer Vinta Nanda accused Alok Nath of allegedly raping her.

READ | #MeToo | After Vinta Nanda Accuses Alok Nath Of Alleged Rape, Actress Navneet Nishan Comes Out And Supports The Claims

Not only did Vinta Nanda accuse the veteran actor of raping her but also claimed he misbehaved with the lead actress of the show in the 90’s. Vinta alleged that Alok Nath was an alcoholic, once came drunk on sets and tried to feel up the lead actress Navneet Nishan which resulted in the lead actress slapping Alok Nath.  Confirming the same allegation, Navneet released a statement. Excerpts from her statement read,

“I support every woman and man who is standing up for herself/himself in the #MeToo movement. I empathize with Vinta for the terrible pain she has gone through; it is unimaginable. I dealt with the four-year harassment by slapping the man in question and it is done and dusted. I suffered the loss of the show and was further shamed by the man through media and I endured that. I fought my battles there and then. I am immensely glad that the power trip and sexual dominance coming from this power is being called out. It is high time". 

In addition to Alok Nath, Nana Patekar, Kailash Kher, Rajat Kapoor and others have been named.