BFF-53 Bollywood actress apologises for #MeToo comments

557

ZCZC

BFF-53

INDIA-FILM-BOLLYWOOD-GENDER-HARASSMENT-METOO

Bollywood actress apologises for #MeToo comments

MUMBAI, Nov 20, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Bollywood actress Preity Zinta apologised
on Tuesday over comments she made about India’s #MeToo movement that sparked
a furore on social media.

Zinta was accused of belittling victims after saying she wished she had
faced sexual harassment.

“My reason for saying ‘I wish something like this would have happened to
me’ in the film industry with a smile was because I would have reacted and
slapped the person,” she said.

Zinta said she was a “huge supporter of the movement” and claimed that her
comments, given in an interview with entertainment site Bollywood Hungama,
were taken out of context.

The 43-year-old star of the 2003 hit “Koi Mil Gaya” (Found Someone) added
that she herself had been the victim of abuse.

“To all the women out there. I’m sorry if I have unintentionally hurt your
sentiments on the #MeToo movement,” she said.

India’s belated #MeToo movement has seen women share accounts of alleged
harassment by several powerful men in the worlds of Bollywood, business,
journalism, politics, comedy and even cricket since gaining traction in late
September.

The trigger appears to have been actress Tanushree Dutta, who accused well-
known Bollywood actor Nana Patekar of inappropriate behaviour on a film set
10 years ago.

Since then, a slew of popular Bollywood figures have been accused of
sexual misconduct, including Vikas Bahl, Sajid Khan and Alok Nath. All have
denied the claims.

Last month, M.J. Akbar resigned as India’s junior foreign minister after
at least 20 women accused him of sexual harassment during his time as a
newspaper editor.

Akbar — who denies the allegations — is suing one of the complainants,
Priya Ramani, for defamation.

BSS/AFP/RY/20:02 hrs