Pulkit Samrat Address Tanushree Dutta, Nana Patekar And Me Too
Soon after Tanushree Dutta revealed that she was harassed on the sets of a film by Nana Patekar in 2008, many Bollywood celebs came forward and supported the actress while few of them avoided talking about it completely.
Now, actor Pulkit Samrat has penned an open letter wherein he has asked the industry people to take a stand for what's right. He poured his heart out in the letter which read:
"As a part of the Bollywood industry that stands by values such as equality, freedom, and non-discrimination, I feel I need to stand up and address the hypocrisy. The case in point: Tanushree Dutta accusing Nana Patekar of harassment on the sets of a film. As soon as the story broke out, I heard the usual talk going around: why didn't she say all of this sooner? Why did she wait for almost a decade since the incident? Nana Patekar? But he is such a nice guy. He has done so much for farmers”
“Let me address those points one by one: A. There have been countless examples in the past where victims have come out way after the purported incident. The #MeToo movement has plenty of examples. There are two primary reasons behind it- A. As a society, we somehow encourage the culture of silence. We are scared to rub powerful people the wrong way for fear of repercussions it might have on our career or social standing. Apathy of authorities does not help matters”
“However, as an industry that is constantly talking about liberal values and more power to women, we should be the first to actively try and change this culture. If we know that person A regularly indulges in inappropriate behaviour and we have seen it happening in front of us, instead of looking the other way, we should proactively report them to the authorities. Oust them from the industry. Take action against them. Yes, it will require years of unlearning what our parents taught us: If you see trouble, look the other way. You don't want to get involved. However, what happens when the same person attacks one of your friends or family members? If you raise a hue and cry then, you should share the blame, because you didn't stop the person when you could”