Photo credit: www.news18.com
Six years post-#MeToo, Tanushree Dutta remains without film roles, emphasizing her commitment to fostering change despite personal tolls.
The #MeToo movement made waves in the Bollywood film industry in 2018, gaining momentum when actress Tanushree Dutta accused actor Nana Patekar of sexual misconduct on the set of their film, Horn Ok Pleassss. This pivotal moment not only sparked conversations around sexual harassment in the industry but also inspired similar dialogues elsewhere, notably leading to a recent 235-page report by the Justice K Hema Committee addressing sexual harassment in the Malayalam film sector. Despite these developments, questions remain regarding the tangible impact of #MeToo on industry practices.
Now six years into the movement, Dutta finds herself out of work, a situation mirrored by other actors like Parvathy Thiruvothu and Rima Kallingal, who were also affected after confronting harassment. In a candid conversation with News18 Showsha, she revealed that despite being approached by filmmakers linked to #MeToo allegations, she chose not to collaborate with them to avoid setting a negative example.
“What’s required is for each actor to be willing to make sacrifices for a greater cause,” Dutta stated. She recalled a significant offer in December 2018 from a prominent producer known for blockbuster films, but because the associated director had faced #MeToo accusations, she decided against taking the role, noting, “Who’s really losing out here? It’s me, as I have been away from filmmaking for quite some time now.”
Dutta further elaborated on her limited engagements, stating, “Currently, I only do public appearances and brand endorsements. My goal is to act in films with strong themes of women’s empowerment. However, my integrity prevents me from collaborating with individuals from whom I must distance myself following their allegations.” She reiterated that an earlier opportunity she had lined up fell through as well, indicating ongoing obstruction in her career.
A promising offer last year from a Kolkata director represented yet another crossroads for Dutta. Although she was eager to take on the Bengali film project due to its compelling storyline, she uncovered that the director had also been involved in #MeToo allegations. “On the surface, everything seemed aligned, and I was excited about the character and the narrative,” she explained, “but the news of his past involvement forced me to reconsider.”
Dutta expressed concerns that such offers could be perceived as attempts to rehabilitate an accused filmmaker’s reputation through her association. “My presence in his film could suggest that I condone his past behavior, which contrasts with the morals I stand for in the #MeToo ethos,” she shared, emphasizing that filmmakers using her to salvage their public image compromised her principles.
Reflecting on the societal context, she mentioned, “There was no formal case against him, yet the industry and many audiences chose to believe the women involved. In a culturally progressive place like Bengal, their support for the woman only heightened the stakes for me.” Ultimately, guided by both her own convictions and advice from her father, Dutta declined the project, seeking to maintain her ethical standards.
For Dutta, the sacrifices she has made seem a necessary commitment to effecting change within the industry. “As someone who has poured so much effort into my career, it pains me to be sidelined. But if I can make a stand in honor of my beliefs, others in the industry should feel encouraged to do the same too,” she concluded, highlighting her hope for collective integrity among her peers.
Source
www.news18.com