Popular Bollywood choreographer Ganesh Acharya is back in the news again for sexual harassment. An assistant choreographer has filed a complaint at the Maharashtra Women’s Commission and at a local police station alleging that Ganesh Acharya demanded a commission on her income and forced her to watch pornographic videos. She claims that his behaviour worsened after he became the general secretary of the Indian Film & Television Choreographers Association, as her membership was unfairly revoked. Acharya is yet to comment on the matter.
Actress Tanushree Dutta has asked the film fraternity to boycott Ganesh Acharya, says this report.
“It’s time Bollywood and the other Indian film industries boycott choreographer Ganesh Acharya completely. Hiding behind the male superstars who work with this despicable man, he has been abusing his power and position to harass, bully and take advantage of vulnerable young newcomers to the industry,” said Tanushree.
#Metoo: Top 10 famous Indians accused of sexual harassment
While Nana Patekar and Ganesh Acharya may have been in the limelight, lets take a look at the other celebrities who have been accused of harassment, as the #MeToo campaign spreads across India. The list includes actors, directors, singers, authors and even journalists.
Nana Patekar
Former actress Tanushree Dutta accused Nana on the sets of the film “Horn ‘Ok’ Pleassss” in 2008. Tanushree also lashed out at choreographer Ganesh Acharya for playing to Nana’s tunes on the sets of Horn OK Pleassss and for pressurising her to perform an intimate step.
Subhash Ghai
An anonymous woman posted on social media that the Khalnayak director had drugged her and raped her. In a separate incident, actress Kate Sharma claimed that the veteran director grabbed her and tried to kiss her.
Alok Nath
Veteran TV writer, producer and director Vinta Nanda, in a Facebook post accused the ‘sanskari’ actor of raping her multiple times, almost a couple of decades back, after Alok was sacked from their TV show ‘Tara’ for allegedly misbehaving with its lead actress.
Anu Malik
Besides singers Sona Mohapatra and Shweta Pandit who have accused Malik of sexual harassment, two budding singers have also levelled similar allegations against the Bollywood film composer.
Vikas Bahl
Director of “Queen” (starring Kangana Ranaut) has been accused of sexually harassing a female employee of Phantom Films.
Sajid Khan
Actress Saloni Chopra accused Sajid Khan (brother of Farah Khan) of sexually harassing her when she was working for him as an assistant.
Vivek Agnihotri
Tanushree Dutta also accused filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri of misbehaving with her on the sets of Chocolate: Deep Dark Secrets (2005). She praised Irrfan Khan and Suniel Shetty, her co-stars, for taking a stand and standing up for her.
Kailash Kher
Singer Sona Mohapatra (married to composer Ram Sampath) has accused Kher of making sexual advances towards her, when the two met to discuss a forthcoming concert. Another singer Varsha Singh Dhanoa has accused the folk singer pf misconduct.
Rajat Kapoor
Journalist Sandhya accused Rajat Kapoor of inappropriate behaviour against three women in separate incidents.
MJ Akbar
The Minister of State for External Affairs and Rajya Sabha MP has been accused of sexual harassment by several female colleagues. Akbar plans to take legal action against the women who accused him.
Chetan Bhagat
Writer Ira Trivedi accused the the celeb author (Five point someone, 2 states) of making several untoward advances at her after the two met at the Jaipur Literature Festival nearly a decade ago. Bhagat says the accusations were false.
Vinod Dua
Documentary Filmmaker Nishtha Jain accused the veteran journalist of stalking and sexually harassing her in June 1989.
#MeToo being blown out of proportion says senior actors
Veteran actor and MP Shatrughan Sinha says the MeToo movement, while being is noble, is being blown out of proportion.
Here are some of his comments, excerpts from an interview.
“What happened to innocent until proven guilty? I am all for the MeToo movement but I think this MeToo campaign is being blown out of all proportion. Anyone can name and shame anyone. Reputations and jobs are being lost through a trial by media. To all the women who are aggrieved, I say, please go to court and make sure the wrongdoers are punished”.
“They (top stars and directors have vowed not to work with sexual offenders) have no problem working with Sanjay Dutt who has been convicted. But they want to blacklist people whose guilt is yet to be proven. Just to look like heroes of the MeToo movement.”
“I don’t want to name anyone. But I will say this. ‘Sau choohe khaa kar billi haj ko chali’. Those seeking to perch themselves on a high moral ground, should look into their conscience. The problem of sexual exploitation, doesn’t end with some names being put out in the social media. This is just the beginning. The problem runs much deeper.
Regarding tainted leader M.J. Akbar, he says “M.J. Akbar revolutionised journalism in India. I believe he has employed 97 lawyers to defend him against charges (of sexual harassment). He should have employed three more lawyers… It would have been a century… Seriously, how can he afford such a massive legal fleet? I can’t afford it if I ever need it.”
Earlier Bollywood’s veteran bad boy Shakti Kapoor had appealed to the Prime Minister of India – Narendra Modi to curb the #MeToo wave in India and treat it as unlawful, so that wrong accusations can be prevented.
