Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; May 26, 2020)

She is sassy, confident and strikes you as someone who has come prepped and ready to find her spot among the stars. In a chat with BT, Pooja Bedi’s daughter, Alaya F, talks about how she owes her confidence to her ‘outspoken family’, the initial rejections she faced and how the Coronavirus lockdown broke the momentum, post a successful landing in Bollywood with Jawaani Jaaneman. Read on...

This lockdown has given a lot of actors a chance to slow down and unwind. In your case, your first film had just released and you were raring to go when everything came to a standstill…
Yes, the lockdown really cut my momentum. I was all ready and thinking… great stuff is going to start. And then, everything stopped suddenly. I was sad, but also glad that my film released, people could watch it in theatres and it was appreciated. I have waited for so long and was dying to put it out there for people to see. Whatever I had invested in so far — emotionally, mentally, physically — it all felt so worth it.

In your debut film, you came across as someone who is extremely confident and self-assured. Even during interactions with the media, that is one thing that stood out. Where does that confidence come from? Is it from the years of prep that you went through (film schools in New York, acting classes in Mumbai) before your debut?
A lot of it came from the prep and a lot of it also came from the fact that I have grown up in a family that is very outspoken. In that sense, I have grown up in front of the camera. The prep gives you a sense of security because you know what you are doing. I had prepped for my first day of shoot so thoroughly that I would make people do lines with me while editing a photo, or having a conversation. And after the first day, I remember Saif (Ali Khan) sir telling me, ‘You are very, very prepared. Keep that going.’

Post your training in New York, when you came back to Mumbai to pursue a career in the movies, you didn’t land a role really quick, right?
When I came back, it wasn’t like there were multiple offers waiting for me or even one for that matter. I don’t think I expected that. You hear stories about your contemporaries getting movies quickly and at some point, I was like…wait, is there something wrong with me? Why am I not getting offers? I would do a series of auditions and then people would say, ‘Oh, you are very good, but you know… whatever’. Every time I faced rejection, I would tell myself… ‘Now, I will prove it to you. I will get a film and you will regret not taking me.’ It got me motivated and energised. Now when I look back, I am glad that I did not get some of those movies, because I don’t think I would have been as ready. I got the perfect film for myself and I can’t imagine having started with any other film.

You come from a family of very strong women — your grandmom, late Protima Bedi, was a brave and outspoken woman, your mom Pooja Bedi, too, has always been vocal about her views. Do you see flashes of their personalities in you?
People tell me that they do, but I definitely think that we have calmed down over the generations. My grandmother was an extremely bold and outspoken woman, who was ahead of her time. Even with respect to today’s times, she would have been way ahead. My mother is also very bold, but tamer than my grandmother. And then there is me, who is the tamest of the lot. I definitely see flashes of them in me and I guess over time, we will find out more about the ways I have taken after them.

The actress is upset after being trolled for criticizing a quarantine facility in Goa, a place she now calls home
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; May 21, 2020)

Pooja Bedi has been in a social media storm ever since she tweeted about the condition of quarantine facilities that her fiancé, Maneck Contractor, and she were subjected to after their recent journey from Mumbai to Goa. Around 7 pm on May 16, the couple reached Goa and was asked to wait at the border till 9.30 pm. After this, they were taken to the district hospital in Mapusa, where they stood for two hours in a queue in order to get tested for Coronavirus. They were then escorted to a quarantine facility in Calangute, where they were asked to stay while they awaited their results. On May 17, around 6.30 pm, their results came out negative, after which they were allowed to go home.

Pooja had tweeted a video, recounting her experience at the quarantine facility and highlighting its unhygienic conditions. She was trolled for the post, with people accusing her of being “fussy” and using celebrity status to enter Goa.

Talking about the quarantine facility, Pooja says “If you see the video, you will understand my outrage. We were travelling from a sanitised home, in a sanitised car, hoping to go to yet another sanitised home in Goa, and then, we are subjected to facilities like that. Forget sanitising, the facility was not even clean and lacked basic hygiene. In a quarantine facility, proper sanitisation is absolutely essential.”

About the backlash she received, Pooja says, “I didn’t want healthy people to go into the facility, get infected and bring the virus into Goa. My intention was to reveal the condition there and it should have been taken in the right spirit. However, I was trolled for being an ‘outsider’ and a ‘celebrity’. I’m used to being trolled, but this was disheartening. People were insinuating that we had used influence to get into Goa, which is not true.”

Pooja says that she and Maneck had applied online and uploaded all documents for inter-state travel. She adds, “My fiancé is a Goan. All our properties and businesses are registered in Goa, which is our home now. We also got permission from the Maharashtra Police to travel to Goa. We had the necessary screening certificates.”

“We chose not to ask for a single favour and conducted ourselves like law-abiding citizens with all documents in place. I love my fellow Goans, but a celebrity entering the state should not be viewed with prejudice. How can they call us outsiders? We have created these borders, but the virus doesn’t see borders. It’s absurd to have that kind of reaction from people where they say ‘go back to the state you belong to’. We are not outsiders in any state, we are Indians,” says Pooja.

Year’s promising debutante, Alaya F, on sleepless nights that preceded her unconventional launch
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 13, 2020)

Her debut film, Jawaani Jaaneman, opened on January 31. Flashbacking to that all-important Friday, Alaya F recalls that she read every single review of the film and was baffled. “Not one criticism for my performance; it was too good to be true! So then, the hunt began for one bad review, even among the YouTube trolls,” the debutante laughs, admitting that she called her manager and told her she wanted to be overworked. "I didn’t even need to sleep; it was more important to capitalise on this beginning.”

Buzz is, Alaya has locked a three-film deal with her first film producer, Jay Shewakramani, and one with Vashu Bhagnani, but she isn’t telling much, except clarifying that there’s no Student Of The Year 3 happening. “I’m open to Bollywood, Hollywood, South and OTT. I wanted to be a filmmaker initially and ran away from acting. Now, I want to act for as long as I can, surprise everyone with my choices,” she says fervently.

The Coronavirus lockdown has put the brakes on her 100-metre dash, but Alaya is taking it in her stride as after Jawaani Jaaneman, she got just a two-three-day getaway before it was back to classes and shoots. “There was a lot of guilt associated with being unproductive. Now, there’s no choice, so I’m working on my art, cleaning out cupboards, learning to play the piano and cook,” she shares.

We return to her first screen turn. What’s the most memorable compliment she got? The query makes her chuckle. “That I looked cute with a pregnant belly. It was a very real-looking, heavy prosthetic belly which gave me a backache. I was excited about getting pregnant till I realised the abs I’d taken months to acquire would be covered up,”Alaya says. Her unconventional choice of subject surprised many, including her producer. “I liked the script,” she says. Were there second thoughts? “None related to the project. My biggest fear was that I might not be as good as I thought I was or wanted to be, that I’d let down myself and others. There were many sleepless nights,” she admits, revealing that every time someone went to Jay’s office to watch portions of the film, she’d tag along. “By the time I finally saw it on the big screen with family, friends and the team, two days before it opened, I was so numb that when someone told me I was good, I was convinced they were lying,” she reminisces.

That first screening was memorable because not only her mom Pooja Bedi, with her fiancé Maneck Contractor, was there, but her dad, Farhan Furniturewala, and stepmom, Laila Khan, had turned up with their four-year son Zaan. Also present was her grandfather, Kabir Bedi, with his better half Parveen Dusanj. It was a classic case of you, me and ours. “From a very young age, I’ve learnt that as long as people are happy, you should be happy for them. Mine is a big, open, loving family; I respect everyone’s choices and enjoy a great equation with them. We complicate love and relationships too much, we don’t need to. That’s what my first film was about, too,” she points out.

There’s a strong mind there, that sets Alaya apart from other 20-somethings. After training in New York, she didn’t return to plunge into Bollywood straightaway, but did another two years of training on home ground. “It was important to understand what I was getting into. I spoke to a lot of people, asked questions, maybe one too many. When I found myself getting too comfortable with one acting sir’s way of teaching, I took classes with others even if their ways didn’t align with mine. Every director and project is different and you can’t get into a comfortable space,” she reasons, grateful to Saif (Ali Khan), who played her father, for helping her lose the first-day jitters. “He’s not afraid to praise and didn’t treat me as a newcomer. The Jawaani team became my family and it was the perfect first film. Now, I’m ready to go wherever life takes me,” she avers with the spirit and spunk that has made her an Instagram star. Won’t Bollywood dilute the frank-speak, make her boringly diplomatic? “I have always spoken my mind, always will, but it’s important to be responsible in what you say,” she signs off.

Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 28, 2020)

In her debut film, Jawaani Jaaneman, Alaya F will be seen sharing screen space with senior actors like Saif Ali Khan and Tabu. The confident young actress is excited to step into the industry and see her dream come true. In a candid chat with BT, she talks about the nepotism debate, stepping into the silver screen, the relationship she shares with her mother, Pooja Bedi, and more. Excerpts:

From dreaming about joining movies to landing a role in a film with Saif Ali Khan, and now gearing up for its release — has it sunk in that you are all set to make your big Bollywood debut?
It is all so magical! It’s surreal to see yourself on big screen. When I saw the film for the first time, I told myself that I would need some time to process this. I enjoyed watching myself on big screen so much that I have already seen the film thrice!

Did you always dream of becoming an actress? How did you prepare yourself to achieve your goal?
I have been prepping for the last four years. For two years, I studied direction and acting in New York. When I returned to Mumbai, I took training in acting, diction, gymnastics, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and dancing, which included forms like contemporary, Bollywood, Kathak, etc.

What’s the feeling of working with a senior and experienced actor like Saif Ali Khan in your first film?
Saif is very smart and witty. You can talk to him about anything and everything. He has been very supportive and is a very giving actor.

At the time of my solo shots, he would be there on the set to give me cues to better my performance. The first time I faced the camera for this film, it was for a scene with him. It was a dialogue-heavy, seven-page long scene, which was a six-minute shot. Nitin sir (Kakkar, director) asked me to do it in a single, continuous shot. It was a crucial scene where I reveal that I am Saif ’s daughter. I was nervous, but it went off smoothly without rehearsing the scene with Saif. The two of us shared a great comfort level.

You hail from a film family. Did you seek support and advice from your mother Pooja Bedi and grandfather Kabir Bedi?
I made a conscious decision to not involve my family members too much in my film journey. Family members tend to get emotional. So, I felt it is better not to mix the two. I told my mother right at the beginning that I would only reach out to her for advice. I am happy that she understood and supported me. Likewise, I go and seek my nana’s (Kabir Bedi) opinion, too. I like making my own decisions. I remember showing my nana my acting videos from my classes, and he would give his perspective on them. I grew extremely close to my nana during my process of becoming an actress.

Was your mom impressed with your training and prep? The way the industry functioned when she entered showbiz was quite different…
She was impressed. She has seen me slog for 14 hours straight, hopping from one class to another. She once told me about how she got her first film. She said that she was 10 minutes late for a meeting, and so she called the director to inform him about the delay and apologise for it. He was really surprised. He was so impressed with her sense of discipline that he cast her in the film without a second thought. That was the time when actors used to come on sets many hours late. Bollywood has changed so much since then. There are so many female-centric films today, and everything is contentdriven. It’s a competitive world out there, and everyone is well prepared. If you are not up to the mark then someone else, who is more prepared, will take your place. Everyone is so dispensable now. I firmly believe ki agar kaam karoge toh kaam milega. I love competition; it keeps everyone on their toes and motivated. You see your contemporaries and learn from their achievements and mistakes, too. It’s interesting to see the paths each one (contemporaries) takes. Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra (Jonas) have inspired me a lot. They are so talented and do such diverse work.

Though you are yet to make your debut, you are already popular on social media. Did you think of that as a stepping-stone to a career in Bollywood?
No, at that point of time, I wanted to be a director and not an actor. So, it had nothing to do with that. In fact, I went to New York to study direction, but later I changed my mind and enrolled in acting classes. When I came back to India and started training here, I was almost disconnected from social media. I lost interest in it. Now that I am an actress, I am making an effort to get back and be more active on social media. However, it is difficult to get back into it once you’ve cut it out of your life. I know it is important, but I don’t take it too seriously.

Recently, while talking about nepotism, you said, ‘Even in our struggle, we are privileged’. It looks like you are ready to take the debate head-on and address it.
Of course! I expected these questions to come my way. However, I feel it’s great that a subject like this is being talked about. It is a reality, and there is no need to run away from it. Addressing it sensitively and acknowledging it is the most important part. For me, no matter what people say, I am still going to act. I am going to do what I love. Hopefully, one day I will be good enough and no one will consider me a product of nepotism. Look at actors like Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor... people don’t look at them as privileged star kids, because they are so good at what they do. Today, we see a lot of talent on the rise in Bollywood. We have star kids coming in, plus, there are talented actors from outside the industry, who are getting great opportunities, too. With more talent around, there are better opportunities and more films are being made.

Earlier in the interview, you said that you share a great bond with your mother. Your parents got divorced when you were really young. How has your relationship with your parents evolved over the years?
My mother allowed me to be my own person. She encouraged me to have an opinion and voice it loud and clear. My mother and I are rarely on the same page, and that makes for good conversations and debates. We look at things differently. I share a great equation with my father (Farhan Furniturewala), too. Both my parents have been there for me constantly and consistently. My dad is extremely excited ever since I told him that I wanted to get into movies. He used to send me newspaper clippings about films under pre-production and ask me to audition for them. Ever since I came back from New York, I spent a lot more time with him. He knows nothing about movies (laughs!). My mother lives in Goa now, while my brother Omar is in Los Angeles, where he is studying business management. Since I live alone in Mumbai, I tend to see my father a lot more. I share a great equation with my stepmother (Laila) and stepbrother Zaan. I hate calling him my stepbrother; he is my brother. He is just four years old and is very cute. I also share a good equation with my mom’s partner (Maneck Contractor). He, too, is excited about my film debut. A few days ago, we went to a multiplex to watch a movie, and when we saw a poster of Jawaani Jaaneman, we all started clicking pictures with it.

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 23, 2020)

She is the new star kid on the block, proud of having made it on her own. Alaya F, who debuts with the Saif Ali Khan-Tabu starrer, Jawaani Jaaneman, talks about working with her talented co-stars, and how she got used to having the camera in her face and learned to deal and behave in tough scenarios. Excerpts:

Your debut film is about coming of age. When was your coming-of-age moment?
My growing up moment was when I decided to become an actor and did it by myself and in my own capacity. Dealing with the realities and responsibilities of life has been something. Today, I am financially independent and with my mother, Pooja Bedi, living in Goa and brother away studying, I’m pretty much alone in the city, managing my life and house.

What were your impressions of Saif before and after working with him?
I knew of him as a talented actor, smart and witty. After working with him, I realised he was all those things and more. Now, I’ve also realised that he is so approachable and giving as an actor. He wants what is best for the film. His dedication reflects in everything he does.

Tabu is the other senior co-star you have in the film…
She is a phenomenal actor. When I met both Tabu ma’am and Saif, I was intimidated but they made me comfy and were always ready to help. While shooting with her, I would observe her act and be blown away by the nuances she added to each scene.

What is the biggest draw and downside of being Pooja Bedi’s daughter?
The biggest plus of being her daughter is that I know how to be in front of a camera. I was always used to having the camera in my face and one learns how to be composed and behave in certain situations. I think I found who I was while being in the public eye. As for drawbacks, there are certain expectations. I have tried hard to build my own life, career and image because my mother is very, very, hot. The roles she played were very hot and that was what she was best at and enjoyed doing. As for me, the cinema I want to be a part of is different. I am excited to work and prove myself.

What kind of movies interest you?
I’ve enjoyed Hindi cinema and even Southern cinema, which has some great films. But the new Bollywood today is content-driven and has wonderful roles for women, which excite me. Of course, the old Bollywood has its own charm, but the current phase has lots of interesting content.

Alaya F, Pooja Bedi’s daughter, on the nepotism debate, her independent relationship with her divorced parents and keeping track of contemporaries
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 16, 2020)

Straightaway Alaya F informs you that she did not want to become an actress because everyone told her she should follow in mother Pooja Bedi’s footsteps. “I was good in academics and had bagged several extra-curricular awards, so I could have done a lot of other things with my life. But since I loved films, I decided to be a director and enrolled for a four-year course in filmmaking at the New York University,” she informs.

After a year, during a group activity, when she was being directed by a fellow student, she realised that she enjoyed acting. So, when she returned to India for a summer break, she told her mother over lunch that she wanted to face a camera now rather than stepping behind it. “She told me I was being indecisive. No one took me seriously then, so, I took control and completed all the documentation needed to get into the New York Film Academy. I got admission, made my five-year plan and went to my parents, wanting their approval. That was the best decision I ever made,” Alaya smiles with satisfaction.

The course taught her basic things like how to break down a script and gave her an understanding of characters. “On returning to Mumbai, I was clear that I would train for another two years and did many acting and dance classes, learnt everything from Bollywood to contemporary hip hop and Kathak. To get rid of my Yankee accent, I took Hindi diction classes and signed up for voice modulation,” she rattles off.

And all the effort led to her bagging Saif Ali Khan’s home production, Jawaani Jaaneman, in which she plays his daughter. Alaya is quick to point out that no one came to her with an offer saying, “Hey, we like you, so let’s find a nice script, a good director and a co-star and make it happen.” There were several meetings and auditions. “I got rejected several times, then, was lucky enough to bag this film. I am glad that I got rejected and grateful my debut is happening with Saif sir and Tabu ma’am. It didn’t feel real until I started shooting the film,” she admits.

You wonder about her mother’s reaction and while she agrees that Pooja was very excited, more so because she doesn’t tell her anything about what’s happening in her life—“She didn’t even get to see the trailer in advance”—she is quick to add that she only goes to her for advice when she wants it. “If she comes to me with unsolicited advice, I tell her, ‘Mumma, I didn’t ask for it.’ I believe in sab ki suno, apni karo. Having said that, she’s always there when needed,” she concedes.

Quiz her on her dad, Farhan Furniturewala, and she points out that though her parents are divorced, they are very involved in her life and are her silently supportive buddies. “Since my mother lives in Goa now, I tend to see my dad more often. He has another child with my stepmother whom I dearly love, and lot of stuff revolves around going out with him,” she smiles.

Bring up the nepotism issue and she admits it’s real and there’s no running away from it. “We need to realise that even in our struggle, we are privileged. If we got rejected in 10 auditions, someone else has got the thumbs down 100 times. Their struggle is greater than ours. But just because I’m privileged, doesn’t mean that I’m not going to do what I love and work hard at it,” she asserts.

And what was it like working with Saif? The smile is back, “It was fun, he’s a great guy to be around as he is intelligent, funny and witty and the set was, in general, a happy place.” Alaya goes on to say that when they were shooting in London, even Kareena Kapoor dropped by, but to her disappointment, they didn’t meet because Saif’s actress-wife arrived minutes after she had wrapped up. “But I played with Taimur many times, he used to keep running around, doing his thing.”

Given that she plays Saif’s daughter on screen, did she take any cues from his reallife daughter, Sara, you wonder, and Alaya retorts, “This character isn’t Sara, its Tia. With Nitin sir (Kakkar, director) I tried to put my real self into the role.”

Sounding very grown up for her years, she views competition as healthy and a great motivator. “Sara, Ananya (Panday), Tara (Sutaria), Janhvi (Kapoor), among others, are all extremely talented in different ways and together we’ve so much to offer. I respect everyone and have watched all their interviews several times to learn from their mistakes and take a note of their good points. I’ve also learnt to see them in the limelight,” she asserts.

Any wish-list of actors she wants to work with? She goes off like a shot, “Kartik (Aaryan), Varun (Dhawan) and Ayushmann (Khurrana), they are doing work which is successful at the box-office and I enjoy watching them on screen. It would be fun to perform with them,” she admits, but is quick to add that she has no role models and doesn’t believe in following something that’s already been done. “I admire a lot of actresses, from Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt to Deepika Padukone, but I want to make my own path and hope somebody else follows it one day,” she signs off with a naughty twinkle in her eye.

Chunky Panday on his actress-daughter being trolled online and playing role model to Saif Ali Khan in their upcoming film
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 9, 2020)

After Saaho and Housefull 4 in 2019, Chunky Panday is gearing up for Jawaani Jaaneman, which features Saif Ali Khan and Tabu, and marks the acting debut of Pooja Bedi’s daughter, Alaia F. In the coming-ofage story, Chunky plays an old man who refuses to act his age.

“It was difficult for me because mentally, I am like a five-year-old. Here, I had to play a 50-something man pretending to be a 25-year-old,” he jokes, adding that his character serves as a role model to Saif’s. Questions about reuniting with his Bullett Raja (The Tigmanshu Dhulia-directed 2013 gangster film) co-star send him down the memory lane. “Saif and I are like a house on fire on the sets. It was better with this film as I play the owner of a nightclub that his character frequents. The shoot was crazy. The only problem was that the crowd and the alcohol weren’t real,” Chunky confesses.

Chunky has worked with Pooja in the 1993 film Lootere. Now, he shares screen space with her daughter. “I see Pooja’s lovely eyes in Alaia F. She is a fabulous actor and it felt like I had my own daughter on the set. She is like a package of fire,” he beams.

The actor believes that he is in the golden age of his career, and it all began with Housefull. “The birth of Pasta is almost like a James Bond series. He has a licence to kill, I have a licence to thrill. But Daniel Craig wants to leave his series after five films, while I would never do that with mine,” he chuckles. He is even more kicked about playing negative characters. “They are getting the beast out of me, not just the best,” he quips.

Ask him about Ananya’s success and the proud father gloats. “Last year, my films did well, but the performance of my daughter’s films is even more exciting,” he says. Ananya was recently trolled for comparing his absence from Karan Johar’s chat show as a sign of struggle. It makes Chunky laugh. “The two times she really got trolled was when she called me Tony Stark and the second was this episode. I want to tell her to stop taking my name,” he confesses.

Being a star kid, Ananya’s love life is always in the news. How does he, as a father, handle that kind of chatter? “She’s 21, it would be abnormal if she didn’t have a boyfriend,” he reasons, adding, “I have been through this in my time, so I know how much of it is true. You’re ready for these things as an insider,” he signs off.

He was joined by friends Pooja Bedi, Sherrin Varghese and other supporters and equal rights activists at this peaceful protest
Ismat Tahseen (BOMBAY TIMES; June 16, 2019)

A large number of people from various fields, including actors and several men’s rights activists, gathered at the Azad Maidan, Mumbai, yesterday for a peaceful dharna to voice their support for the #MenToo movement. The purpose of this dharna was to create awareness about the misuse of law, in cases where men are falsely accused of rape and other such charges by women. Recently, TV actor Karan Oberoi was accused of rape and extortion by a tantrik-and-healer. He was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on June 7, about a month after his arrest.

Talking to Bombay Times, Karan said, “After being wrongly accused, I realised that I’m not the only one. There are so many men out there who are falsely accused. After being in prison for all those days, I can say that no one should go through such an ordeal ever. When I was in jail, the ones who suffered the most were my mother and sister. So, when you are fighting for men’s rights, you are also addressing the whole family that has been affected. I’m here today to support #MenToo, because I believe that justice shouldn’t be determined on the basis of one’s gender. Every man is vulnerable if the law is misused. We are fighting for gender-neutral laws here. When I was in jail, there were so many people fighting for me outside. However, there are many voiceless people, who do not have a support system, the means or money to help them. How can you just let them suffer for no fault of theirs? So, this fight is not just mine, and it doesn’t end with me getting out of jail.”

Pooja Bedi, who has been at the forefront of this movement and is one of Karan’s best friends and strongest supporters, said, “Movements like this are initiated because there is a need for it. There is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. What this movement needs at this point is support, visibility, and among many agendas, the most important one is to put a stop to fake cases. This is possible by modifying laws and strictly punishing those who file fake cases.”

The event, organised by a foundation, saw several known names lend their voices to the #MenToo movement, like equal rights activist Barkha Trehan, activist Amit Deshpande, theatre personality Dolly Thakore, Karan’s sister Gurbani, his friend Sherrin Varghese (member of Karan’s music band, A Band Of Boys; pictured right) and Maneck Contractor, among others. Said Sherrin, “I support my bandmate Karan Oberoi; it’s not about men or women, male or female, it’s about equality for all genders.”

Added Barkha Trehan, “I’m here to show support to all my innocent brothers who have been falsely implicated in fake cases. Their lives are ruined.”

Activist Amit Deshpande explained that the aftermath of such false cases could lead men to take drastic steps in their life. “These false cases affect men so badly that it even leads them to suicide. We have a suicide helpline for men and the maximum calls are from those who are falsely accused,” he said.

In a chat with Bombay Times, Pooja Bedi, one of the leading advocates of the #MenToo movement, talks about Karan Oberoi finally being out on bail after a month, and how supporters will join hands to work towards making changes in the legislation
Debarati Sen (BOMBAY TIMES; June 10, 2019)

Last week, Bombay High Court’s Justice Revati Mohite-Dere granted bail to actor-singer Karan Oberoi, who was in judicial custody. He was arrested after a tantrik-cum-healer accused him of rape and extortion. Since his arrest, close friends of the actor, including Pooja Bedi, had been vocal on social media about the case and how they felt that Karan has been wrongly accused.

Tonight, Pooja is hosting a dinner at her house, where Karan’s friends and supporters will come together to welcome him home. In a chat with Bombay Times, she speaks about the ordeal that they all went through in the last one month, the tremendous support from lawyers and activists across the country, and the overwhelming backing that the #MenToo movement has received so far…

‘THERE ARE 600 CASES LIKE KARAN’S IN JUST TALOJA JAIL’
On his way back home from the jail, Karan did a video chat with Pooja, who could not personally be by his side. She says, “Karan was smiling, teary-eyed and overwhelmed with gratitude to see all the love and support pouring in from so many quarters. It has been an extremely traumatic experience for him. He sounded upbeat to be out, but I could see the wear and tear on his face from being in jail for a month. He is now determined to take this forward and make sure that this does not happen to any other man. He said that there were 600 cases similar to his in just Taloja jail (Navi Mumbai). Imagine the state across the country.”

TAKING THE #MENTOO MOVEMENT FORWARD
The #MenToo movement has been gathering tremendous momentum in the last month. And now, a huge number of people, including lawyers and activists, are holding a public rally in Azad Maidan from 11 am to 1 pm on June 15. Pooja says, “The rally will see supporters of #MenToo, and Karan along with his A Band Of Boys (his music group). They will sing a couple of songs to highlight the issue. We are going to take bytes of people, and capture the sentiment about fake cases that is gripping the nation. We want to start changing things and are taking concrete measures to ensure that this initiative gains momentum.”

‘WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS MAKING LEGISLATIVE CHANGES’
Pooja, along with an entire team including experts and lawyers, are working towards making changes in the legislation, which is the need of the hour. “Prominent lawyers across the country have come forward with different suggestions, information, clauses, supportive laws and cases to back our appeal for #MenToo and why we need it. They have brought forth many clauses, different laws that need amendment and different ways to prosecute women for fake cases. Lawyers are helping us to formulate an entire way forward for #MenToo and advising us how to make legislative changes in Parliament and in the Law Commission of India.” 

Pooja Bedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 26, 2019)

Comparing the #MeToo and #MenToo movement is like comparing the moon and the sun. The radiance of the sun by day does not take away from the radiance of the moon by night, and the two have their own roles and responsibilities towards the planet. For the sake of clarity, #MeToo is largely seen as a movement of women, by women and for women. While they add that it includes men, if you hashtag it, a pink symbol shows up. In India, #MenToo is a movement that is being given momentum by women and men, and aims to protect men as well as the women in their families, who bear the brunt of his #rapist tag, amongst other charges. Scores of innocent men are given the most repulsive labels immediately upon arrest, despite lack of evidence and despite showing hard evidence to the contrary. After years of going through jail and courts many are exonerated, some with honourable acquittals, but the damage to their reputation, careers, life and family is irreparable.

Rampant misuse of stringent laws meant to protect women is only going to backfire on women’s rights. If #MenToo aims to put the brakes on alarmingly rising numbers of false cases, it will only give back the weight and integrity to the #MeToo movement, because misuse of a movement takes away from its purpose and credibility. #MenToo is not anti #MeToo, because no movement that focuses on equality, equal rights, equal laws, equal justice and equal protection of both sexes could ever be a threat to any credible movement. #MenToo aims to protect men as well as women from the brunt of fake cases. It is also important to note the distinction between an accused man being acquitted over lack of evidence v/s when a case is proven to be fake. If we can name and shame men who are proven rapists, we can certainly do the same to women who are proven to have filed fake cases. Both are a violation of dignity and human rights.

#MenToo is society standing up against the misuse of laws and the humiliation, disrepute, agony and incarceration of innocent men to satisfy a woman’s need for vengeance, extortion or manipulation. Data by the Delhi Commission for Women states 53.2% of rape cases filed in Delhi between April 2013 and July 2014 turned out to be false. According to NCRB data, 10% dowry cases filed each year are proven false. In 2013, out of the investigated 1,12,058 cases, 10,864 were false. And in 2012, 10,235 out of 1,03,848 were proven false. After this data was released, the Supreme Court had observed that the law meant to combat the menace of harassment of women by their husband or in-laws was often being used as a “weapon rather than shield by disgruntled wives”. The IPC 498A being a cognisable and non-bailable offence only worsens the plight of those falsely accused. Sections 354, 509 and 376 are there to protect women, and not to terrorise innocent men. If there is a National Commission for Women to address the rights and grievances of women, #MenToo believes it’s only logical and fair to have a National Commission for Men in place to do the same.

Even though some women sneer at the need to protect men on the grounds that we were once a patriarchal society, innocent men of today need not suffer because of what Indian society ostensibly once was. Fact is, be it to be the providers, not show vulnerability, and now deal with misuse of laws against them and their families, the pressure on men is extreme. WHO data states that suicide rate in India is 16.4 women per 100,000 v/s 25.8 for men.

Pro-women movements like #MeToo were amazing till umpteen cases came to light about its misuse and even how PR agents were egging on young starlets to put a hashtag on someone to get a slice of limelight. And this is where the problem lies. Such practices dilute a movement like #MeToo as well as other women’s rights movements, and work against laws created to protect women. This dilution, please note, is not due to men, but women themselves. To brazenly put false accusations on men because there can be no apparent repercussions for women is highly dangerous to society and once again, a violation of human rights. In an era of consensual pre-marital sex, Tinder and live-in relationships, women cannot be put on untouchable pedestals as they oscillate from being emancipated one moment to suddenly being helpless the next. Rape is a heinous crime, #MenToo would like to demand clarity in law as to what defines a rape. A woman claiming rape because a man refuses to marry her, or because she wants to settle scores is hugely disrespectful to women who have actually been put through the trauma of real rape and abuse and their fight for justice. While #MeToo emphasised naming and shaming, #MenToo focuses on protecting the identity of both victim and accused until proven guilty.

It’s time for activists, politicians and society as a whole to recognise #MenToo as a movement that protects society, men, women and families without discrimination and that it is a movement for a free, equal and respectful society that will bring law, order and punishment to the guilty, irrespective of gender.

The bail application for actor Karan Oberoi – who was arrested on Sunday for allegedly raping a fashion designer-and-healer – will be filed today. Police custody was rejected by the court on Thursday
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 10, 2019)

TV actor Karan Oberoi’s arrest on Sunday following an FIR lodged by a fashion designer-and-healer, charging him with rape and extortion, has left his family and friends shocked. Some of his close friends, like actress and columnist Pooja Bedi, TV actor Sachin Shroff, members of his Indi pop group, A Band Of Boys, including Sudhanshu Pandey, Sherrin Verghese, Chaitanya Bhosle and Danny Fernandes, along with Karan’s sister Gurbani Oberoi, came out in support of him on the day of his first hearing at the Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Andheri East. His friends, who have known him for years and believe that Karan can’t commit such a crime, have extended their unconditional support. They have, in fact, even initiated the #MenToo movement, that will fight and stand up for men’s rights during instances when they are falsely accused.

Before entering the court yesterday, Sudhanshu told Bombay Times, “The idea of being here is the same as it was at the press conference, which is extending our full support to Karan. Like I said earlier, I have complete faith in our judicial system. I am also certain that Karan is not capable of committing a crime of this magnitude. We want him to come out of this without being mentally scarred. He should know that all of us are with him. He should be in a good state of mind and that’s what we want for him.”

Karan couldn’t hold back his tears and was seen sobbing throughout the hearing. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief when the demand for police custody was rejected by the honourable court.

During the hearing, Karan’s lawyer Dinesh Tiwari pointed out several discrepancies in the statements of the girl. He told the court, “No description of the date, time and place of the act has been mentioned by the girl anywhere in the FIR.”

His lawyer also read out a few messages sent by the girl to Karan. Quoting some of them, the lawyer said, “In a message, the girl asks Karan for a picture. If they were in a relationship for two years, how can there be no picture of them together. In case of a genuine relationship, the couple hangs out and clicks pictures together. In another message, she writes to him, ‘You never offered me anything I asked for. Take care’. Karan hasn’t replied to any of these messages, which makes it look like a case of one-sided love and she seems to be chasing him. Nowhere has she mentioned that he raped her or promised marriage. What’s to be noted is the fact that she would message Karan from different numbers after he blocked her, because she was causing nuisance in his life. Is it possible for a lady, who has been subjected to torture or rape, to resort to these measures? Even in an interview given to a publication, there was no mention of marriage by her. She also mentioned in the interview that Karan asked for her pictures, which proves that there was an exchange of pictures with her consent. By sending such pictures, did she not seduce the accused? If at all she was offended, the reaction would have been different. In this case, she is an equal participant.”



BT was present throughout the court proceedings, and post that, Dinesh Tiwari told us, “The request of the police for custody has been rejected by the court. We presented all the material, including everything that’s published in the newspaper, to indicate how this story has been created. The court has accepted the submission and he will be in judicial custody for 14 days. We will apply for bail today. When the police sought police custody for Karan Oberoi, we objected to it, pointing out how this fake case has been created out of nowhere and just because two people don’t get along, such allegations are created. After hearing the argument at length, the court has sent Karan in judicial custody.”

Pooja, who is Karan’s best friend, said, “It’s one step forward in the right direction. We will be relieved when he comes home, the case against him is quashed and the girl gets punished for filing a fake case. A precedent must be set. It’s not just about Karan, but about a much bigger picture that we are looking at. One thing that needs to be done is to protect the identity of the man, so that he doesn’t have to go through the trauma. Whoever is found guilty, whether it’s the accuser or the accused, should be named and shamed. But till that time, both their identities need to be protected. Most importantly, we need to take note of the fact that while laws like these come into place to protect women, we also need to prevent the misuse of these laws, which can lead to an immediate arrest of a man, because that’s the legal process. We presented the police with all the evidence to show that Karan was innocent. But they had to arrest him owing to the due process of the law.”

Pooja hugged Karan while he was leaving for judicial custody. She said, “I told him that he should know that everyone is on his side. We love him, support him and we are going to make sure that he gets through this. I told him about the tremendous amount of support the #MenToo movement is receiving. I also told him that I really hope that this case makes him the poster boy of all false cases filed against men.”

Talking about the support the #MenToo movement has garnered, Pooja said, “I think the movement is getting support because people are aggrieved and have felt the brunt of the misuse of these laws. It’s there because people know this is not something that’s unique to just Karan, but a large number of men across the country. As I said, it’s not just the men who suffer, their families, too, suffer along with them, which includes their wives, sisters, mothers and daughters. All of them are made to suffer equally when a woman files a fake case against them. If we want true equality in our country, things need to change. We cannot have laws, which are so protective of one sex that they infringe on the rights and liberty of the other. It’s just not fair.”

By Pooja Bedi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 9, 2019)

My best friend Karan Oberoi has been arrested for “Rape & extortion” and drugging and filming the complainant. The publicly known facts of the case are that they met end 2016 on a dating app. In October 2018, Karan Oberoi filed an NC against the woman for harassment. In her interview to the Times of India in November 2018, she states they had been in “a relationship”, that she had showered him with gifts and done up his apartment, and that she felt bad to pressure him for marriage because he was in a bad financial position. However, this week in May 2019 she has filed a case of rape and extortion, claiming it happened sometime in January 2017. The statements in her interview given in November 2018 are in direct contrast to her FIR in May 2019, which states that the “alleged” crime took place in 2017.

It’s glaringly obvious at to what is going on, but we cannot term it a fake case until it proven to be so in court of law. But what happens in the interim. She has cleverly lodged the FIR the day the High Court went to holiday so he can’t apply for bail for a month. The media has jumped on to it, hashtags of #rapist, loss of his reputation and years of fan following, damage to his career, his family is in turmoil, the physical distress given conditions of lock up... the list goes on. We showed the police overwhelming evidence in regards to her messages on his phone, but the saddest part is even if the police can see that the man is innocent, they have to take action based on the FIR, arrest him and follow due process of law. Even more bizarre was that he and she were both sent for medical tests even though the alleged incident happened 2.5 years ago, because it’s due process. This brings into focus the increasing need to focus on men’s rights as a human rights issue as well. Over the years, there has been a steady clamour among single and married men in India as to how provisions of the law meant to protect women are being misused by women for personal vendetta and extortion. I’m all for women power and women’s rights and come from a family of very strong, dynamic and liberated women who have heralded change and reform for women and their rights.

However, today (and I have done so in the past as well), I firmly stand in support of men’s rights and beginning of a #MenToo movement. The rising number of fake cases against men is not only women against men, but also women against women, as it weakens the purpose it was created for. The joy of knowing that a woman’s rights are protected and she has strong recourse in law is now increasingly being met with suspicion as to whether it’s a case of misuse. We cannot have an equal society if we are so focussed on protecting what we consider a “weaker sex”, that we refuse to openly acknowledging rising number of women as tyrants. Being a “rape or abuse complainant” gives women an almost “holy cow” status and people get scared to point out that she’s lying or manipulating the law. It’s almost sacrilegious to challenge a woman’s claim or to stand up for a man if you consider him a victim. Women have rights, but they are not above the law and that needs to be made very clear by prosecuting women who file fake cases. We need to have equally stringent punishments for women who unfairly and baselessly use provisions of law to subject men to tough laws and procedures. Most importantly, in the quest for equal rights is the need to protect the identity of men until they are proven guilty. Why is only a woman’s reputation sacred and not a man’s? Does he not have a career? Social respect? Family? If a woman is found guilty of a fake case, she should also be publicly named and shamed, like what happens to men. Let’s focus on equal laws to protect, equal laws to punish, and a fight for an equal society. It’s time for #MenToo.