Former model and actor Tanushree Dutta, who starred in films like Chocolate, Aashiq Banaya Aapne, etc., recently accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment. The 34-year-old actor shared that the incident took place 10 years ago (2008) while she was shooting for Horn Ok Please alongside Patekar. However, Patekar has denied the allegation and has chosen to not speak to media; he has hinted at taking a legal action.
While most leading male actors have chosen to stay mum on the subject with some being slammed for not speaking up such as Amitabh Bachchan, actor-director Farhan Akhtar was the first one to speak in support of Dutta. Responding to a tweet by journalist Janice Sequeira, who has said that she was present on the sets and witnessed the incident, Akhtar wrote: “This thread is very telling. Janice Sequeira was there at the time of the incident being debated today. Even when Tanushree Dutta had career concerns to keep quiet 10 years ago she did not and her story hasn’t changed now. Her courage should be admired, not her intention questioned.”
Retweeting Akhtar’s tweet, Priyanka Chopra noted, “Agreed...the world needs to believe survivors,” while Sonam Kapoor Ahuja tweeted, “I believe Tanushree Dutta and Janice’s recollection of the account. Janice is my friend and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it’s up to us to stand together.”
Aside from these women, actor and author Twinkle Khanna, who has always been very vocal, also joined the thread and called out trolls to check facts before passing any judgements. “Please read this thread before judging or shaming Tanushree Dutta,” she wrote. “A working environment without harassment and intimidation is a fundamental right and by speaking up, this brave woman helps pave the way towards that very goal for all of us!”
It is yet to be seen whether Dutta’s allegation holds if legal action is taken, but seeing multiple A-list actors, authors speaking up on the issue, and falling on the right side of the issue is commendable.