Case dismissed?

Mona

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The public trial of many celebs last October created a storm as #MeToo movement hit Bollywood. Many directors and actors under the dock for sexual harassment charges were removed from their projects. This led to stalling of many movies. While women artistes admit to a noticeable change with the provision for safety being increased and the code of conduct coming into play post #MeToo, the fact remains that some of the alleged accused are getting back into work stream, slow and steady. 

Alok Nath was recently seen in De De Pyaar De. Vikas Bahl, whose alleged misconduct led to the dissolution of Phantom Productions, will get his credit back as the director of Super 30 after his name was cleared by the Internal Complaint Committee of Reliance Entertainment. Just a hogwash or a movement that brought some changes and made women feel safer. It’s time to revisit #MeToo.

Clean chit to Nana?
Nana Patekar

Tanushree Dutta, who spearheaded the #MeToo movement in Bollywood, recently rubbished rumours claiming that Nana Patekar has been given a clean chit against the FIR she had registered in October last. “I wish to clarify that the Mumbai police has given no such statement and that the investigation on the matter is still ongoing as confirmed by my advocate Nitin Satpute and the Mumbai police,” she said. 

The case is going slow as witnesses have not recorded their statements. Nana’s advocate labels the allegations as false. Nana, who was seen last in Tamil drama Kaala last summer, has a release due in 2019, titled Tadka, which has run into delays on one account or another since it went on the floors back in 2016.

Spineless system
Alok Nath

Another face of ugly #MeToo controversy, Alok Nath, who was seen in recent De De Pyaar De is under the scanner yet again. Tanushree Dutta labelled Bollywood to be ‘full of liars, show-offs and spineless hypocrites’. She expressed even if the movie was shot before, the portions with Alok Nath could have been re-shot. Early this year, Alok Nath applied and got a pre-arrest bail in the rape case filed by Vinta Nanda, who has expressed faith in the Indian judicial system and Nath’s move as ‘misleading to the court’.

Back on track
Sajid Khan

The #MeToo allegations by many women, including actresses and a journalist, made Sajid Khan step down as a director from successful franchise Housefull’s fourth instalment. Suspended by Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association for a year, in April as news of him joining hands with John Abraham for a film surfaced, he clarified that he is out of work for last six months due to the suspension. 

All clear
Mukesh Chabra 

Casting director Mukesh Chabra had to let go of his directorial debut Kizie Aur Manny, the Hindi remake of Fault in Our Stars, as accusations of sexual harassment surfaced against him and Vicky Sidana. However, post clearance from Internal Complaints Committee of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Mukesh resumed shoot and, in fact, was a judge at one of the contests of a beauty pageant few days back.

Odd man out
Tanmay Bhat

However, things have not panned out so positive for many others like Tanmay Bhat, co-founder, All India Bakchod (AIB). The comedy collective came under fire as several misconduct reports against Youtuber Utsav Chakraborty associated with AIB surfaced. As AIB closed shop lately, Tanmay admitted ‘lapse of judgment regarding Utsav Chakraborty was egregious’. In a social media post last week, he shared, “I am committing to a daily process of unlearning, rewiring, and learning. To those who continue to have faith in me - thank you for giving me this invaluable opportunity to change and grow. I want to now look forward and let my actions prove my growth.” 

#TheyToo

The #MeToo movement that originated in Hollywood in October 2017 hit Bollywood a year later and swept along many a celeb in sexual harassment cases. While most trials happened on social media, only a few were converted into FIRs. Most cases were heard, disposed of by internal complaint committees of the artistes associations or production houses. Bollywood bigwigs like Rajkumar Hirani too got embroiled in the controversy with his name being dropped from Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga posters that he has allegedly coproduced with Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Another director Subhash Ghai, who was accused of molestation charges, got a clean chit from the Mumbai police as apparently model Kate Sharma took back the complaint. Successful music composer Anu Malik had to bow out of the reality show, Indian Idol, as many singers accused him of misconduct. This Saturday another new report surfaced alleging that he is barred from entering Yash Raj Studios over the #MeToo allegations.

mona@tribunemail.com

Tweet trail

Alok Nath ke baad Vikas Bahl gets clean chit, whereas girls will be shamed all their lives for raising their voices, Bollywood scum land on this earth remember jaise woh film piti thi yeh bhi pitegi...tum logon ka hisab hoga, there is a world beyond this world, where a woman’s cry isn’t unheard ... ” —Rangoli Chandel