New Delhi:
After claims and counter claims on Tanushree Dutta-Nana Patekar controversy, several Bollywood actresses have voiced their opinions in support of Tanushree Dutta. Renuka Shahane, a renowned actress, has penned a well-reasoned article on Facebook on the ongoing controversy around Tanushree Dutta’s claims of alleged sexual harassment by Nana Patekar.
Extending support to the actress over Nana Patekar-Tanushree Dutta controversy, Sahane wrote "Tanushree made it clear that she was uncomfortable with a certain step in the dance and did not like Nana's gesture/touch during that step. Even if Nana's intentions might not have been to molest her, couldn't he, the director and the choreographer come up with a step that made her feel comfortable? Is the work place meant for terrorising people or about working in a healthy atmosphere? Would the film have suffered earth shatteringly if the steps were changed so that an actor felt more comfortable?"
In her post, the Hum Aapke Hain Kaun actress also said, "What made Tanushree uncomfortable might not cause discomfort to other women perhaps but that is no reason for the men on the set to gang up against a person who is part of their team. If she was truly the daughter of any of the men around would they have really asked her to do something that made her feel very uncomfortable or would they want to change the step?" She also added that "none of the men had a difficult time. Their ego had won! The men got all the support that any industry (not just the film industry) gives to powerful men. The only person who was traumatized was Tanushree. The scars have still not healed. Please do the math."
“If she was truly the daughter of any of the men around would they have really asked her to do something that made her feel very uncomfortable or would they want to change the step? Shayad yehi fark hai “beti jaisi” or asli beti hone mein!”, Renuka Shahane wrote.
“As if four full grown men weren’t enough against one girl, allegedly some members of a political party were called in to intimidate Tanushree and her parents! WTH!!! If that is not a huge overreaction then what is? Allegedly, the political party wanted Tanushree to apologise for hurting the ‘pride of Maharashtra’. Can you believe this? Would this behaviour, to force a girl uncomfortable with a dance step, really make Maharashtra proud? Isn’t the pride of Maharashtra enshrined in respecting women and making it safer for women to live life?”, She continued. Read her facebook post here:
Tanushree Dutta recently told DNA that co-actors Irrfan Khan and Suniel Shetty stood up for her when Chocolate director (Vivek Agnihotri, whom she didn't name) allegedly instructed her to "take her clothes off and dance" for a scene.
On the other hand, reacting to the 10-year-old controversy, National award winner, Nana Patekar has refuted the allegations levelled by Tanushree Dutta and has further sought an apology from the actress. Nana stated that he will be taking legal action against the false charges. His lawyer on Friday said that he is soon going to send a legal notice to Tanushree Dutta over the allegations made against the actor.
