Mayuri Phadnis (MID-DAY; May 10, 2018)

In India, when someone alleges sexual harassment, the person is suddenly looked at differently, but the #MeToo movement grew stronger because people who have suffered sexual harassment were not made to feel isolated, opined actress Nimrat Kaur.

“If strict action is taken against offenders, young actresses will not hesitate to come forth to talk about something like casting couch. But first, they need to be assured that they won't become victims of ostracism and unemployment. Hollywood took years to find the strength to speak up. I think we are also slowly getting there,” stated Nimrat, drawing reference from the protest of a Telugu actress against alleged sexual harassment in Tollywood.

Nimrat recently visited Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and, in a candid conversation with us, spoke about multiple topics — her love for regional cinema, celebrities using social media to voice their opinions and the various phases filmmaking has undergone.

“In the 1980s and 1990s, cinema did not have an impactful voice. The movies were made from a commercial point of view to garner mass appeal. We have seen better cinema, with thought provoking content, in the 60s and 70s. Now again, we are getting a chance to showcase good content through various platforms,” she said.

About the success of regional films at the National Awards, she said, “Hindi cinema dominates the entertainment scene, but I make it a point to watch regional movies for their rich content. But since the PR and distribution system of these films is not so strong, they don’t get the kind of audience that they deserve.”