The ball for India’s #MeToo movement could have started rolling a decade ago, had the industry not remained silent when she had first levelled harassment accusations against veteran actor Nana Patekar, says actress and former beauty queen Tanushree Dutta.
Tanushree, in an interview to IANS, recounted Nana’s “misbehaviour” on the sets of “Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss” in 2008. “He called the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) party to bash up my car. He was behind everything and was supported by Ganesh Acharya, the producer and director.”
A recent interview in which Tanushree has stated that the #MeToo movement will never arrive in India because of the industry’s hypocrisy, has refreshed discussion about her unsavoury experience and allegations.
In 2008, at a press conference to address the “indecent behaviour” allegation by Tanushree, Nana had said he was highly surprised at the charges by the actress, who he said was “my daughter’s age”.
“I have no clues about what made her say such things about me. I have been a part of this film industry since the last 35 years and haven’t had anyone saying such things about me ever,” Nana had said back then.
The former Miss India Universe feels let down that the entire industry has continued to work with those whom she named.
“Ganesh Acharya rolls out songs every year with top stars, Nana has worked with stars like Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth and the producer and director have continued to work. They were not the ones who went through the trauma of being mobbed by goons, or being called names,” she added.
She went on record to tell ANI, “He(choreographer Ganesh Acharya) is a bloody liar and a two faced person.He got the job because of me and he decided to back stab me, of course he will support him(Nana Patekar) as he was equally complicit in the harassment.”