Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 10, 2019)

The Screenwriters Association (SWA) and Cine and Television Artistes Association (CINTAA) are signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to address and resolve all issues their members face in the line of work. The two organisations felt the need to combat problems common to both after Alok Nath’s refusal to respond to Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA), following writer-director Vinta Nanda’s allegation of rape in the wake of the #MeToo Movement.

Both SWA and CINTAA are a part of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) but since the Federation is burdened with 22 associations of as many departments, they address member issues independently.

Sushant Singh, general secretary, CINTAA, points out that associations are the backbones of the industry and can work more effectively together. “With a lot of members from both CINTAA and SWA turning producers, there are chances of conflict. The idea is for both associations to form joint committees to address complaints. Together, they will have more power, be respected and feared more.”

Sunil Salgia (right), general secretary, SWA, added that the MOU will address all violations, be it sexual harassment, copyright, payment or breach of contract. “The idea is to fight and take action. The MOU will compel members to attend hearings or else they couldn’t expect cooperation in case of a personal grievance,” he concluded.

Producer Imran Khan admits that the rape accused, who plays an upright judge in his next, has created plenty of problems for him
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 22, 2019)

Tanushree Dutta brought the #MeToo movement to India last year with her allegations against Nana Patekar for sexual misconduct. Then, just when one was beginning to think that the movement had run out of steam, the actress made headlines again when she accused Ajay Devgn of supporting the Bollywood comeback of Alok Nath in his upcoming romcom, De De Pyaar De. For the uninitiated, Alok Nath, the ‘sanskari babuji’, has been accused of rape by director Vinta Nanda who threw her weight behind Tanushree as did the latter’s sister Ishita. The backlash prompted Ajay to issue a statement emphasizing that while he had expressed his solidarity with the #MeToo movement and had taken a stand against any unfairness or atrocity at the workplace, the shooting of this film was over by last September and it was almost impossible to get the entire cast together for a reshoot, plus it would have led to huge monetary losses to the producers.

Soon after, Ajay cleared his stance, TV actor-turned- producer Imran Khan admits that he is facing a similar problem with his upcoming film, Main Bhi, featuring Alok Nath as an upright judge. Distributors from across the country are unwilling to touch it.

“We wrapped up our film last year in July, long before the allegations against Alok Nath ji were made public and he was banned. A year ago, any producer would have cast him in such a role,” Imran reasons, adding, “He has worked with Subhash Ghai, Yash Chopra and Karan Johar, so where have I erred in casting him? I’ve approached so many distributors and advertisement agencies, but distributors are not buying my film due to him. It’s injustice to a small producer like me who in all fairness casted Alok Nath ji at the start of 2018.”

Ironically, his film deals with sexual harassment. The producer, however, claims that he had registered the title much before the #MeToo movement exploded in India. “We’ve long spoken about girls being abused, but my film is the story of boys from Bhopal slums who go through similar trauma since their childhood. I locked the script and registered the title, Main Bhi, long ago,” he states.

Imran has over 25 years of acting experience and has worked with Alok Nath and Vinta Nanda on two serials in the’90s, Tara and Hero Uncle. Ask him if he saw anything unusual back then on the sets, and he says, “Everybody in the industry knows that there are two sides to Alok Nath—one before he starts drinking and other after he is drunk. I don’t remember any untoward situation, he was always a gem of a person. But what transpires within the four walls is something that only the woman and man can say.”

Imran asserts that none of the women had any complaints about the actor’s behaviour during the shooting of his film in Bhopal. “We had a lot of female crew, he was well behaved with them on sets,” he informs.

Prod him on his release plans, and the producer signs off saying, “I am looking to release after the elections, but it all depends on the distributors.”

After Alok Nath's role in Ajay Devgn's De De Pyaar De remains untouched, Vinta Nanda, who accused the senior actor of rape, says she didn't expect any different from misogynist Bollywood
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 18, 2019)

A day after Tanushree Dutta questioned the moral bankruptcy of the industry in light of Alok Nath's portions being retained in Ajay Devgn's upcoming film De De Pyaar De, Vinta Nanda tells mid-day that she did not expect any better from an industry whose morals change as per convenience.

When the #MeToo movement took India by storm last year, the Tara writer-producer opened up on her ordeal of how she was allegedly raped by Nath 19 years ago. "I don't expect anything from Ajay Devgn. I don't think he is in any position to take a stand. The money riding on the project is the only dharma for them," says Nanda, who had filed a police complaint against Nath in November. The senior actor was granted anticipatory bail in January after the Dindoshi sessions court adjudged that he may have been "falsely implicated".

It may be recalled that Devgn had lent his support to the movement last year, vociferously stating that neither his company nor he would collaborate with those accused. However, in a shocking turn of events, Nath found a place in De De Pyaar De as his on-screen father. At the trailer launch, when Devgn was questioned about the actor's inclusion in the film, he stated that the film was completed before the allegations surfaced.

"When it comes to the box office, nobody [in the industry] follows any other religion. There is no right and wrong. Their politics and ideologies go for a toss. Their reluctance to take action is the giveaway [of their intentions]," says Nanda.

Not all is lost though - point out to her how netizens had outraged against Devgn when the trailer dropped online, and she says it is up to the audience to right the wrong. "The audience is the only agency that can reject the film. If it doesn't, then it goes to show how regressive we are as a society. But I am optimistic about the young generation. They will give sleepless nights to all these men and women, who are not able to take a stand."

As she continues her battle against Nath in the court, Nanda says it is the presence of brave women like Dutta that give her the courage to go on. "Few women have the kind of inner strength that Tanushree has. I don't know any among those around me. Most are afraid to even meet me, lest they be viewed as supporters of the movement."

Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; February 2, 2019)

Early October, 2018, the #MeToo movement raised its head in India. Director-producer Vinta Nanda was among the first few women to come out with her experience; she accused actor Alok Nath of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s. Apart from moving court in the matter, she had also approached the Internal Complaints Committee of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, formed in keeping with the guidelines of the POSH Act of 2013.

The committee, comprising advocates Mrunalini Deshmukh and Vibhav Krishna, filmmakers like Shrabani Deodhar (the presiding officer of the committee) and Bhavna Talwar, Ashoke Pandit (President, IFTDA), Ashok Dubey (from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees) and Nandini Sarkar (from the NGO CQuel) investigated the allegations in compliance with the principles of natural justice, equity and fair play.

The ICC, exercising its power under the POSH Act to summon a person for investigation, had called Alok Nath to present his side of the story. However, he had refused to participate in the inquiry despite being given three opportunities. “Alok blatantly challenged the ICC and defied the summons to attend the meetings. In effect, he has refused to cooperate with the mandate of the IFTDA to provide a secure workplace for women. On recommendations of the association’s POSH Committee, FWICE (the mother body representing all the crafts and technicians in the industry) has issued a sixmonth non-cooperation directive to Alok,” says Ashoke Pandit.

He adds, “The awareness around sexual misconduct and the #MeToo movement have together encouraged women to speak up. POSH Act has given them the confidence to call out sexual predators. Today, any complainant who has the courage to speak up against unwelcome behaviour, regardless of who the perpetrator is, is not an object of pity or sympathy. She’s a real survivor. Our endeavor is to have zero tolerance for incidents of sexual harassment and value every individual, promoting a work environment in which persons of both sexes work and complement each other as equals.”
---------------------------------------
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 2, 2019)

On Friday, the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) announced that its mother body, Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), has issued a six-month non-cooperation directive to Alok Nath. The 62-year-old actor has been accused of rape by writer-director Vinta Nanda. Earlier, the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) had expelled him following a no-show at the body’s meeting on November 12 to present his case.

IFTDA president Ashoke Pandit informed that the sexual harassment complaint filed by its fellow member Vinta was shared with the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) Committee and investigated in accordance with the POSH Act. “Alok Nath was summoned thrice by the ICC (Internal Complaints Committee) but he didn’t turn up for any of the meetings. Since he blatantly refused to co-operate with IFTDA’s mandate of providing a secure workplace for women, we reached out to FWICE for a six-month ban which was approved on Thursday. Alok Nath has been duly informed,” stated Pandit.

When Mirror reached out to Alok Nath, he refused to comment on the ban. “The law will take its course,” the actor stated shortly.

Earlier, following the POSH Investigation Closure Report of December 7, 2018, IFTDA, on the ICC’s recommendation, had suspended Sajid Khan’s membership for a period of one year with immediate effect. The ban will be reviewed after a year. The director has been accused of sexual harassment by a number of women and was replaced by Farhad Samji in Sajid Nadiadwala’s ongoing production Housefull 4.

Clockwise from above: Vinta Nanda accused Alok Nath of rape; Rose McGowan, Alyssa Milano spearheaded #MeToo against Harvey Weinstein; Tanushree Dutta’s allegations against Nana Patekar kicked off the movement in India

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 24, 2018)

Following the massive #MeToo movement, around 50 million Google searches on sexual harrasment, reporting and prevention of such behaviour were recorded in the US during October 2017 to June 2018, a US study suggests.

The study found that sexual harassment and assault searches were 86 per cent higher than expected from October 15 in 2017 to June 15 in 2018, reaching a record high.

An estimated 40-54 million Google searches for sexual harassment and assault were recorded in the US in the eight months after public accusations against film producer Harvey Weinstein and the ensuing #MeToo movement, according to the researchers, including John W. Ayers from the University of California, San Diego.

For the study, the research team monitored the volume of Google searches originating from the US that were indicative of sexual harassment and assault awareness from January 1, 2010, through June 15, 2018. They further monitored the subset of these searches that focused on seeking resources for reporting of sexual harassment and assault and preventive training.

The search volumes were provided as a ratio of all Google searches (per 10 million), thereby adjusting for changes in Google usage over time, suggested the study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. The team found that searches related to reporting and preventive training for sexual harassment and assault were 30 per cent higher and 51 per cent higher than predicted.

On October 15, 2017, following the public accusations of sexual harassment and assault against Harvey Weinstein, actress Alyssa Milano encouraged victims to bring the taboo topic out of the shadows by sharing their own stories.

#MeToo was tweeted 300,000 times the day after Milano’s post and generated widespread support with scores of accusations made against media, political, and business leaders, giving voice to previously unheard victims.

In India, the movement began this year after Tanushree Dutta accused actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment and Vinta Nanda came out with her story involving Alok Nath.

After IFTDA announces one-year suspension for #MeToo accused Sajid Khan, body's president Ashoke Pandit promises 'speedy trial' in Alok Nath case
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 13, 2018)

In a decision that shows that the #MeToo movement has sparked off a much-needed change, the Indian Films & Television Directors' Association (IFTDA) announced a one-year suspension for Sajid Khan. The filmmaker was accused of sexual harassment by actor Rachel White, assistant director Saloni Chopra and a journalist, among others.

Speaking to mid-day, Ashoke Pandit, president of IFTDA, asserted that the organisation will now train its sight on the other case at hand - that against actor Alok Nath.

"We have gone into the depth of the matter here. Next on our agenda is Vinta Nanda's case against Alok Nath. We will move to it in the next five days, and ensure a speedy trial on the matter," says Pandit, who had set up an Internal Complaints' Committee (ICC) in keeping with the POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace) guidelines to look into Khan's case.

He further asserts that the organisation is planning to join forces with several studios in Mumbai to pre-empt cases of this nature. "We have a senior counsel on board, and with them, we will be doing educational sessions in film schools. We will also be speaking to studio spaces like Mehboob, Film City, Kamalistan and ND Studios to ensure that they set up an ICC and a committee for women employees, lest an unfortunate incident happens at any workplace."

Meanwhile, White - one of the survivors who outed Khan - told mid-day that she was expecting a more drastic move: "Several women have named him, so it's not one person's word against the other's. We had sent detailed e-mails but weren't kept in the loop about the ruling. I have an issue with the fact that there is no clarity on how they came to the decision. That's only a fair expectation from a woman who took the risk to come out with a personal account. However, the step is a much-needed beginning. It hurts that Sajid has denied all charges."

Khan remained unavailable for comment.

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 7, 2018)

Writer-director Vinta Nanda, who has accused actor Alok Nath of rape and sexual harassment, says she now “desperately” wants to get back to normal life.

Nanda had shared her account of the alleged sexual assault in a Facebook post on October 8. The director said she got the courage to call out Nath after she realised it was for the first time that men in Bollywood were standing up for women. “My trigger obviously was the atmosphere, there was an enabling environment. I was very certain I will be heard and supported because the movement had gathered momentum, started by Tanushree (Dutta). I give her all the credit in the Bollywood space, as she took on very big people. When I saw that the industry was supporting her, CINTAA was coming out openly and speaking for her... It was the first time in Bollywood where I saw men stand up and speak for women,” Nanda was quoted as saying at an event recently.

Nanda said she “went to sleep” after writing about the alleged sexual harassment on social media and woke up to realise that things will never be the same.

“For me, it was over. I had held back for so many years. I was relieved but I had given sleepless nights to everyone, including my family. By the time I woke up, from my building to the office building, there were media vans parked all over the place. I woke up to the fact that ‘ok now I’ve done it’. Now I have to live up to it. That’s what I am doing until today. I am trying desperately to get back to normal life now. This is the last panel I’m saying ‘yes’ to because I just have to get back to normal life now,” she added.

Last month, Mumbai Police registered a rape case against Nath following Nanda’s complaint. He has been booked under Indian Penal Code’s Section 376 (rape).

Nath has refuted the allegations and filed a civil suit against Nanda, seeking Re 1 as damages for alleged defamation.

Alok Nath's counsel Ashok Saraogi told mid-day that the actor had gone out of town for some important work
Diwakar Sharma (MID-DAY; December 5, 2018)

Actor Alok Nath, who has been booked for raping screenwriter and director Vinta Nanda almost two decades ago, is 'untraceable', said a source at Oshiwara police station. There was no one at his house to accept the summons letter issued to him last week, the cops have said.

"His [Nath's] version is equally important in the case. Last week, we had issued summons to him so that the next level of investigation in the Vinta Nanda case can be initiated but he was not at home. We don't know where he is!" the source said.

Nath's counsel Ashok Saraogi told mid-day that Nath had gone out of town for some important work. "The summons was issued but was not served as Nath is not in Mumbai. He will return to the city this week and will definitely visit Oshiwara police station. He is in touch with me," said Saraogi, who added, "I have not read the contents of the summons."

Nanda, in October, had alleged that Nath, with whom she'd worked in the television serial Tara, had raped her. Following this, she had filed a police complaint and on November 21, Nath was booked for rape, but has denied the allegation and filed a case of defamation. Investigators are waiting to conduct medical tests on Nanda as per procedure. The possibility of Nath's arrest is entirely based on Nanda's medical report, her statement made in the FIR and the statement of Nath. "Nanda's allegation needs to be corroborated with the evidence and statement made her," said a senior police officer.

Film body conveyed its decision after actor was a no-show at a meeting to address Vinta Nanda’s rape allegations against him
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 14, 2018)

Over a month after writer-filmmaker Vinta Nanda accused Alok Nath, the leading man of her hit 1990s TV show Tara, of raping her twice 19 years ago, Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA) has expelled the veteran actor.

The move comes a day after Nath was a no-show at the body’s meeting on November 12 to present his case, sending a response to the show-cause notice instead. On Tuesday, CINTAA sent a letter to the actor by courier to inform him about their decision.

“The Executive Committee (EC) took the call on Monday after going through Alok Nath’s reply to our show-cause notice. He was also supposed to be present at the meeting, but he didn’t turn up. The EC unanimously voted him out,” CINTAA general secretary Sushant Singh told Mirror, refusing to divulge the contents of Alok’s letter.

Prod him if the decision to expel Nath should have come from the film body’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which has been set up to address complaints under the Sexual Harassment Act 2013, and Sushant reasons, “We have formed our ICC but first, they need to be POSHtrained (Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act) on how to hear cases, take a deposition, cross-question, among many other things. They need thorough training first. We can’t just throw cases at them. So, this case was handled under our current provisions – the CINTAA constitution says that any act by a member that proves to be defamatory to the association, against its interests or any of its affiliates, warrants a show-cause notice and, if need be, expulsion.”

Applauding CINTAA’s decision, Vinta told Mirror, “I think it’s a big step because at the end of the day we all have to acknowledge that we are answerable and accountable to our governing bodies. It’s only then, that institutions like CINTAA, IFTDA (Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association) and Screenwriters Association (SWA) will achieve the status they deserve. Mr Alok Nath should have given credit to the organisation he is a member of and should have attended the meetings when he was asked to do so, thrice. I turned up for the SWA meeting when asked to. On November 21, I am going to an IFTDA meeting.”

Does this move set a precedent or some sort? “Discipline is an important factor that was lacking in our system and today, CINTAA has shown that now people will not be able to act with impunity for the rest of their lives. The belief that you can get away with anything isn’t going to work any longer. It’s a very loud and clear message,” Vinta signs off.

When Mirror got in touch with Alok Nath for a comment, he said, “I’m celebrating.” 

Actor Susmita Mukherjee on drawing from the underbelly of Bollywood for her debut fiction
Debjani Paul (MID-DAY; November 4, 2018)

Never has the underbelly of Bollywood been as exposed as it is now, as horrific accounts of sexual harassment continue to spill out in the #MeToo movement. But even before, there were always whispers, says film and TV actor Susmita Mukherjee. “I have no first-hand experience of this, but we would hear whispers [of sexual misconduct],” says Mukherjee, who explores the same dark side of the film industry in her debut novel, Mee And Juhibaby (Speaking Tiger).

The book follows the journey of the eponymous protagonist, Mee, short for Meehika, a successful Bollywood actor who faces a failed marriage and a bruising rejection from a movie mogul, plunging her into a world of alcohol, promiscuity and obesity. Is there a #MeToo story in Mee’s journey? “She has an extramarital affair, but it is not a #MeToo story. It was consensual,” says Mukherjee.

Eventually, as Mee turns to writing for TV, she reconnects with her estranged mother, Juhibaby, who is blind and ailing, living in an old age home. Parts of Mee’s life are similar to Mukherjee’s, who is a well-known face from films and TV, as well as a screenwriter and playwright (her first script was turned into the play Nati, which opened at Prithvi Theatre in 1990). But that is where the similarities end. “This is a work of fiction. She’s a theatre and film actor like me, but the things that happen to her in the book did not happen in my life. Of course, as a first-time writer, I have drawn from things I have heard of in the industry. But I’ve never seen this underbelly personally,” she clarifies.

The #MeToo storm has struck people in her work life, however. In the TV serial Tara, her onscreen husband was played by Alok Nath, aka Sanskaari Babuji, who stands accused of rape and harassment by multiple women. The first of these allegations was made by Vinta Nanda, who was also the writer for Tara. “I have worked with Alok and Vinta on Tara. I don’t wish to speak about this,” was all Mukherjee said on the matter.

Asked whether she had ever faced any sexual misconduct or had to walk away from a job because of it, she says, “Yes [to walking away from a job].” “I had a very strong marriage with my husband, and I didn’t need that role to survive. I walked away from projects and that was my choice. But, I also recognise that some people do need the job, and they may not have that [choice],” she adds.

As someone with a direct window into the industry, what does she think of the #MeToo movement? “There is something very therapeutic about coming out and speaking up. I have compassion for all these women, who feel like they are now ready to come forward. But I feel admiration for women in rural areas, who don’t have the same education or privilege, but have the courage to stand up for themselves immediately, no matter the cost. Both ways, there is no judgment.”

Bollywood is only one part of this tale, emphasises Mukherjee. “At its heart, it’s a story about mothers and daughters. It is about our relationship with our mothers, and their’s with their mother. It’s about how Mee And Juhibaby reunite and find it in their hearts to forgive each other and build a bond despite their differences. This book is my way of saying goodbye; it’s a prelude to moving away. India has been lost to me because a cultural shift has occurred. The election results dealt a deathblow. They unleashed something that I don’t wish to be caught in. I’d rather not be reduced to a marginal character in this India,” she ends.

Ashok Saraogi questions Vinta Nanda’s “rape” charge, says even hangover causes pain; her lawyer Dhruti Kapadia asks what has a woman to gain by saying she was raped
Sharmeen Hakim (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 26, 2018)

“How many mouths will he shut?” asked writer-director Vinta Nanda while arguing against the injunction application filed by Alok Nath’s wife Ashu Singh to restrain her from making any statement in public against the rape accused till the defamation suit is decided.

Ashok Saraogi, Alok Nath and Ashu’s counsel, stated that Alok Nath had been given the nickname ‘sanskari’ by the virtue of his good character and resorted to character assassination in his defence. Referring to Vinta’s Facebook post in which she admitted to smoking, drinking and being a liberated woman, Saraogi noted, “This is how she certifies her character.”

Describing her as a “storyteller”, he dismissed Vinta’s narrative that she drank herself silly and was in depression for 10 years, as “fiction”. “A person is unconscious, over drunk and does not know when she reached her home and who took her there. She just realised that she has experienced pain, but she doesn’t say where the pain is. After drinking you get a hangover, that too causes pain,” Saraogi challenged.

Criticising Vinta’s move to ‘out’ his client on Facebook and not take legal recourse, he argued, “If it is a criminal offence there are provisions. If the police fails to take action, you can approach the higher authorities. There cannot be a media trial on the basis of a complaint.”

Dhruti Kapadia, appearing for Vinta, pointed out that there was no Vishaka Committee 20 years ago and that even under the IT Act one is allowed to write what one wants. She argued that her client at the time was a 30-year-old lady who wanted a career. “This incident ruined it and by writing about it, she was exercising her right to freedom of expression,” Kapadia said, adding that while Vinta had not named Alok Nath, people in the industry knew who she was referring to because they knew about him.

She went on to say that while several people had come forward to support her client after she narrated her ordeal on the social media, with some even speaking up about how Alok Nath had violated them, the actor has chosen to bring a suit only against her. “What does a woman have to gain by coming out and saying that she was raped. And we all know where the pain would be if a person is raped,” she retorted, responding to Saraogi’s bid at character assassination.

Pointing out that even Alok Nath was drunk, Kapadia further argued that just because Vinta was drunk, it doesn’t make her characterless. “He (Alok Nath) says, ‘I have made her life’. He made her life by raping her?” the lawyer asked sarcastically.

After hearing arguments of both counsels for almost three hours on Thursday, the court is likely to pass orders today.

MUMBAI MIRROR (October 17, 2018)

A day after he filed a defamation case seeking Re 1 in damages against Vinta Nanda in connection with her rape accusations against him, Alok Nath has refused to respond to a notice issued to him by the Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA). The association has now decided to take strong action against the actor.

IFTDA had sent a show-cause notice to Alok on October 10 based on a complaint by Vinta. In response, the actor’s advocate Ashok Sarogi has told IFTDA that there is “no complaint at all made with any of the police authorities nor filed with any of the legal authorities” and that the notice has been served on the basis of “interviews and some complaints on social media”.

On Tuesday, IFTDA President Ashoke Pandit was quoted as saying, “We are calling a meeting to find a way... We will follow whatever is permissible under the law of our association, to protect our members. Yes, she (Vinta) did not complain to the police, but she did complain to us. So, we will take a strong stand.”

‘Wish women had spoken about their stories immediately’

Bappi Lahiri says although he is not fully aware of the details of the #MeToo movement, he feels women should come out with their stories of harassment immediately.

Bappi said while he is not trying to shame anyone, it does not make sense when a person speaks about an issue years later.

“I heard and read about a few cases here. The old cases which are coming out now, my point is, why did you not speak about it when it happened? Why didn’t you register a complaint, file an FIR? The news which is coming out now, I wish it came out earlier. Today we are launching the film’s music, there’s no point talking about it ten years later,” he was quoted as saying at an event recently.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; October 15, 2018)

Last month, Tanushree Dutta talked about being sexually harassed by Nana Patekar on the sets of Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss in 2008. Several Bollywood celebrities tweeted in support of her. Among them was actress-turned-author Twinkle Khanna. Tanushree thanked her, but also questioned the writer about her husband Akshay Kumar working with Nana in Housefull 4. When Farah Khan posted a picture with Nana on the way to Jaisalmer for the film’s shoot, the Aashiq Banaya actress slammed her, too, for it.

Since then, things have changed drastically. A few days ago, Sajid Khan, who was directing Housefull 4, was accused of sexual harassment by three women. Akshay tweeted that he has requested the producers of the comic caper to cancel the shoot until further investigation. He also wrote that he will not work with proven offenders and those harassed should be heard and given justice they deserve. Soon after, Sajid stepped down as director and later, Nana also opted out for “the convenience of everybody.”

We asked Tanushree if she feels vindicated. “Let’s say I am not celebrating, yet because there is so much more that needs to be done. I am glad that somebody like Akshay finally decided to put his foot down and has chosen to not work with people such as these. I am also happy that Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao and a couple of other production houses are taking a stand, but I would not want this to be a one-time Right now, the situation is hot, so let’s disassociate and at a later date collaborate again. So, I am just seeing where this is going before I can raise a toast,” she said.

However, the actress feels that whatever happened is a milestone. “Actors taking a stand by disassociating themselves, the Housefull 4 fiasco, production houses like Phantom Films dissolving, MAMI dropping films, and concrete steps being taken are an encouraging thing. Earlier, it was only about me talking, then people supporting me, then more people coming forward with their stories... it becoming an issue on the national level and structures falling. This is what is needed for more people to come forward with their experiences. They need to be assured that they would be heard and their words would have an effect. I want to push the movement. I know there are many people with horrifying stories that are untold and need to come to light,” elaborates the torchbearer of the #MeTooMovement.

Recently, Tanushree has lodged a police complaint against Nana, which she doesn’t want to discuss as investigations are on. Nevertheless, she is waiting for CINTAA to take action. “Not only Nana, but I also want CINTAA to take action against the other three accused — choreographer Ganesh Acharya, director Rakesh Sarang and producer Samee Siddiqui. I want them to be taken to task, too. It would be a big statement that a film body would make. These guys bullied me and pressured me... (so) just one guy dropping from the film does not make me feel vindicated. This is not a revenge campaign. It goes much deeper than that. I lost 10 years of my life, was away from my work, which is my passion,” she says.

At the same time, the actress is grateful for all the support she has been getting. “I appreciate any and all support I got, especially if it is encouraging other people to come forward. Vinta Nanda said she was encouraged by me. Now, people are scared and are thinking, ‘What did we do, who did we do it to?’ because you never know whose name will come up. Some think it will all go away after a while but I don’t want that to happen,” she concludes.

THE TIMES OF INDIA (October 14, 2018)

Mumbai: Actor Alok Nath’s wife has submitted a complaint before Andheri magistrate court, alleging defamation by writer-producer Vinta Nanda, who recently accused him of raping her almost two decades ago. The couple is also likely to move a separate defamation suit for damages on Monday, seeking Re 1 as compensation.

In the complaint, filed through advocate Ashok Saraogi, Ashu told court that because of the defamatory statement published on behalf of Vinta, she and her husband were terrorised, as when they go out, people have been looking at them with a “different attitude”.

Ashu told court a complaint had been submitted to Amboli police station on Friday, but they felt that since the offences were non-cognizable, they were unable to take cognisance without a court order.

She urged the court to direct police to take cognisance of the complaint and conduct investigations. She sought issuance of process against Vinta too. Ashu told court the serial in which Alok was lead actor and Vinta, the writer, director and producer, was initially popular but went off air after a change of cast and storyline. She said it seemed Vinta had an impression that because of Alok, the artistes and storyline were required to be changed and the serial had gone off air and hence, she had a grievance against him. Ashu claimed Vinta maintained cordial relations with her and never uttered a word against Alok.

Ashu said if relief was not granted, she and her husband would suffer grave and irreparable loss, harm and injury, which would never be compensated in terms of money.

Super Cassettes Industries Ltd (T-Series) chairman and MD, Bhushan Kumar, submitted an application to police, seeking a probe on the posting of offending statements on social media against him.

Another journalist called out Tata Motors corporate communications chief Suresh Rangarajan (48) for misbehaving at the workplace. The company told Rangarajan “to proceed on leave to allow for an objective enquiry to be completed as swiftly as possible”. Tata Motors’ HR department tweeted, “Allegations are being investigated...”

Meanwhile, model Kate Sharma aka Komal submitted a written application at Versova police station late on Saturday, accusing Subhash Ghai of trying to get intimate with her in July. In a tweet, Subhash Ghai said, “…I m deeply pained 2b gripped in this movement but thank those who know me n my respect I shower to women n their dignity…”

As told to Mohua Das (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 14, 2018)

What I put out there wasn’t just on an impulse. In fact, I’d been thinking about it for almost a year now. But it didn’t feel like it was the right time yet or couldn’t dig deep enough to word it. I didn’t know if I trusted anyone, yet I knew it was time because there were platforms to do it now. I also felt that the onus was on a person like me to say and start something and be a part of this movement. While I realised it was my responsibility, I felt like a coward for not doing it. When Tanushree Dutta broke her silence, the conflict inside me seemed to grow and almost burst forth. At the same time, I was busy travelling and tried to push away the thoughts. I kept struggling with it because I wanted them to be my words from my heart and my truth. I didn’t want it to be a media circus or a publicity stunt.

When Vinta Nanda broke out with Alok Nath, I knew I had to do it. Not just for myself but to support her. So I sat for three nights and everything started pouring out, flashing inside my head so clearly, visuals of 20 years ago. My heart was pounding when I put it out there but in less than 15 minutes when I saw what it did, the catharsis started. Keeping it bottled inside myself for so many years changed me as a person. I wasn’t always a reticent, asocial person. But the incident made me a far more closed person than I actually am. It made me distrustful of signing a lot of work. I stopped going for parties and premieres until last year.

Now that it was out, it was almost something physically leaving my body. I couldn’t sleep that night. Not out of fear but the lack of it. Felt so much lighter in my stomach, and different physically. Of course, I had fears that I wouldn’t be believed but I had to rise above them to break patriarchy and the male dominant mindset. That’s what being brave is also about. When people ask, ‘Why didn’t they come out before?’ it’s because it is ingrained in women to tolerate anything and be lauded for their sahan shakti. We have been silenced for too long with trying to live up to that. Sahan shakti does not mean silence anymore and I’m happy that women have decided to show they have a voice because that was one of the biggest problems in our system too.

I’m just happy that everyone is speaking — women speaking for women, men speaking for women, women speaking of and for men — and I’m glad that I’m a link in this chain.

Vinta Nanda, writer-producer, who has alleged abuse by Alok Nath
As told to Sonam Joshi (THE TIMES OF INDIA; October 14, 2018)

The last time I spoke out there wasn’t a supportive and enabling environment in the industry, and the world at large. Nobody said a single word. The only reaction was that I stopped getting work. It was a really bad phase.

When CINTAA (Cine & TV Artists Association) supported Tanushree Dutta, it was a trigger for me. I’ve been in the industry since 1985, and it’s the first time that an association that governs it stood up for a woman. When I told my mom I want to come out, she said please don’t because we had been through an emotional cycle already, and the fact that no one supported me was even more painful. Yet, I just knew that the moment was now or never. The next morning, I put up this post. In an hour, it went viral. The first person from the film industry who called me was Vidya Balan, who I hadn’t spoken to in 20 years ago. That started the deluge.

It was exhausting to talk about it again but it was like purging. I needed to end the silence, to get it out of the system, to be heard and told that what happened with me was wrong and feel the support.

The only negative reaction I got after speaking out was the question — why are you coming out after 10 years. But it takes a long time to process the experience of abuse and articulate it. Even if someone finds an opportunity 50 years later, they should come out.

It has made a big difference to my life overnight. I’m feeling lighter as a person, more comfortable in my own skin. I wasn’t born to be a person who could be caged and I was in a cage for 20 years. It’s like I have been released from the captivity that I had endured for 20 years. I have had support from unknown quarters and people telling me how proud are of me. I trust the world now. I didn’t trust it the day before.

In the last few days, there have been dramatic changes in the industry. CINTAA has given me 100% support. The institutions that govern the industry have announced plans to create an enabling environment for women in the industry. I hope women will be emboldened and know there is somewhere they can go and speak out. That is the change. When this happened to me, there was a predator who knew I had nowhere to go. That same predator turned into a serial offender. I was weeping when I read what Sandhya Mridul went through.

Had I somewhere to go to then, these girls would have never had to go through the trauma I did.

It is not about revenge. I’ve done this because I wanted to relieve myself of the burden once and for all. I forgave the universe a long time back for what happened. My justice came to me when I woke up the next morning and found that others had spoken because I had spoken up.

I have found my closure.

Actress Deepika Amin tells BT how she was harassed by Alok Nath years ago during a shoot
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; October 13, 2018)

After Vinta Nanda and Sandhya Mridul, actress Deepika Amin, has now accused Alok Nath of harassing her during the outdoor shoot of a telefilm, many years ago. Deepika, who has acted in films like Raanjhanaa, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Fan, has also been a part of many TV shows. She tweeted on Wednesday, “Everyone in the industry knows that #AlokNath is an obnoxious drunkard, who harasses women. Years ago, on a telefilm outdoor shoot, he tried to barge into my room. He slobbered over women, drunk, and created a scene. The unit rallied around me and made sure I was safe #metoo” (sic).

Talking about that incident, she said, “When that took place, the entire unit had protected me, but no one warned him of serious consequences on repeating such obnoxious behaviour. For years now, everyone in the industry has known that he creates a scene after drinking. Even Sandhya Mridul (she has also accused Alok Nath of harassing her) said that she was asked to share her room with her hairdresser, after she was harassed by him on a shoot. Again, no one took any action against the man in question. I have spoken in support of Vinta, because I feel that the #MeToo movement is important. It will make men realise that women are not going to suffer silently. Also, every man who misbehaves with a woman must remember that his wife, daughter and sister, too, will have such horror stories to share. We women literally grow up suffering such misconduct.”

When asked why she did not lodge a formal complaint against Alok Nath back then, the actress replied, “Women are taught to accept such things and move on. At this point, I would also like to add that sexual harassment happens in every field, not just the film industry. In fact, I don’t think there would be any woman, who has not suffered some kind of mistreatment from a man. I believe that supporting Vinta is important, because it is high time people came forward and talked about it.”

After her first unpleasant experience, Deepika again worked with Alok Nath in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018). Talking about that experience, she said, “This time he kept a distance and I preferred to maintain a distance.”

On a parting note, she added, “What bothers me is that, why are most men silent when such incidents are happening to women? Why can’t good, well behaved men confront offenders and tell them to back off? Why were the men in my film’s unit, Sandhya’s unit or Vinta’s unit silent when this happened?”

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 12, 2018)

A day after the Producers Guild of India set up a special committee to address harassment at the workplace within the industry, the Screenwriters Association (SWA) is following suit. Mirror has learnt that the association has formed an internal committee to deal with the issue.

It is chaired by filmmaker Ketki Pandit (above), who has previously headed a similar committee at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) while she was Course Head for screenplay-writing.

“The elections were held on September 30 and the decision to form an internal committee to address sexual harassment was taken by the elected members of the SWA. We are formulating policies to safeguard our employees and members while also committing to support them in every way,” she informs.

Screenwriters Atika Chohan, Bikas Ranjan Mishra, Ishita Moitra, Jyoti Kapoor and filmmaker Sridhar Rangayan are a part of the committee. Dr Anagha Sarpotdar is the external member. “The idea is to not just protect women but also have a gender-neutral policy where we will also look into harassment against men, women and the LGBTQ community,” Pandit adds.

Writer-filmmaker Vinta Nanda (right), who recently shared her #MeToo story involving Alok Nath, recently reached out to the SWA seeking guidance. “We have to maintain confidentiality on the complaints, so I can’t share details, but we are drafting a response to her complaint. We will have a preliminary interview with Vinta ji to understand her case better,” Ketki signs off.

BOMBAY TIMES (October 11, 2018)

Days after writer-producer Vinta Nanda accused Alok Nath of rape, actress Sandhya Mridul has opened up about facing sexual harassment from him. Sandhya wrote a detailed account of how Alok, who played her onscreen father in her first telefilm, tried to forcibly enter her room in an inebriated state. She wrote, “One night after an early pack-up, when the cast went out for dinner, Alok got progressively drunk and started insisting that I sit with him and that I belonged to him, which made me very nervous and uncomfortable. My costar realised what was happening and got me out of there.”

“Once I was inside my hotel room, costume dada came to my room to give me my clothes for the next day, as I had a very early call time. A few minutes later, there was a knock on my door and I opened the door thinking it was him again, but it was an inebriated Alok Nath. I instinctively tried to shut the door, but he pushed it and lunged at me. I stepped aside and he went flying past me into the room.. I fell back toward the bathroom door and he lunged at me again screaming, ‘I want you, you’re mine.’ I dodged him again and he went into the bathroom and I think I latched the loo door and ran out of my room down the corridor into the lobby. Fortunately, my DoP was at the reception and he came back to my room and what ensued was traumatic, because a belligerent Alok Nath refused to leave. He kept screaming, shouting, threatening and abusing, trying to grab me, but at some point, we managed to make him leave.”

She added, “In a few hours, I had scenes with Bauji where I had to sit on his lap and cry. I still feel nauseous when I think of it. It didn’t stop there. Every evening, he would drink and every night, calls were made to my room. I had the hairdresser moved in to my room permanently.” “A few days later, I got very sick and was laid up and couldn’t shoot. He continued to traumatise me with calls. And knocks,” she wrote, adding, “One day, he landed up at my hotel door to apologise. He said he was an alcoholic and that he had destroyed everything and I was like his daughter and he respected me and that he was sorry.” “I finally broke my silence, screamed, shouted, cried and it was done. I believed him.”

She concluded, “I stand by you, Vinta. What I went through is nothing compared to you. I’m so sorry. More power to you. To us all. I’m certain there are others. I urge you to come forward. Your time is up, Sir.”