Delhi:
Over the past few months, #MeToo has gained momentum in India, especially in the entertainment industry. Several celebrities have come forward to share their experience of sexual harassment. From Tanushree Dutta to Chitrangda Singh, several Bollywood actresses have shared their own experiences of sexual harassment and abuse in the wake of India’s #MeToo Movement.
Recently at the actress' roundtable conference organised by Rajeev Masand, Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma, Deepika Padukone, Tabu, Rani Mukerji, and Tapsee Pannu made an appearance and spoke about issues including the impactful #MeToo movement that shook the industry.
When asked what has changed fundamentally in the wake of the #MeToo movement, Anushka stated that it has made people more introspective. She added, ‘’There should be a little sense of fear. Your work place has to be the second sacred place for you. After your home your work place is the place where you should feel the safest and if you're not feeling that way then that's the worst world to be living in.’’
To which Rani said, "I think as a woman you have to be that powerful within yourself, you have to believe that you're so powerful that if you ever come into a situation like that you have the courage to say 'back off.' I think you have to have the courage to be able to protect yourself."
Deepika opposed this by saying, ‘’I don't think everyone is constructed with that sort of DNA."
Rani further stated that self-defence’ is necessary and so learning martial arts is important and it should become a part of the school schedule.
Countering her statement, Deepika said, ‘’But why to even bring it to the point where girls should learn self-defence.’’ Even, Anushka agreed to Deepika's point, however, Rani wasn't convinced. She later said, "You can’t tell mothers how to bring up their children."
However, Rani’s statement didn’t go down well with the Twitterati and she was brutally trolled by the on social media. Take a look at some of the reactions below:
It looks like while Deepika, Anushka and Alia are being applauded, Rani's opnion has not been welcomed by the internet. Taapsee and Tabu did not take sides during the discussion.
