Pooja Bhatt: #MeToo allegations need serious action

Ranting on a public platform is not enough, says the actor-filmmaker

Actor-filmmaker Pooja Bhatt says she is happy that #MeToo movement has helped women come out with their stories of harassment but believes allegations need to be followed up with serious action instead of "ranting on a public platform".

A string of cases gave birth to India's #MeToo chapter last September, with women from all walks of life coming forward to demand a safer work environment.

"One should take names. One should file a case and take the person to court. Just ranting on a public platform with no thought towards the consequences, I think, is a bit too much," Pooja told PTI.

She contends that the movement should not be limited to social media and rather be dealt properly with the help of law.

"If a man has made an overture at you and is harassing you, there is a law that protects you. Ranting on Twitter and not backing it up with a police complaint (does not help)... I am not interested in a media trial," she adds.

The actor-director says she too has been a victim of sexual harassment.

"It's a fallacy, I have had my share. Which woman has not dealt with somebody putting their hand on the butt? When I used to go to school by train, I have got my butt pinched. But we were trained to take on that person."

In 2002, Pooja had confessed that she was in an abusive relationship with an actor. She says she was then accused of washing her "dirty linen in public" by the industry.

"I felt I must talk about it as I represent courage and strength to the world. That time it was not considered fashionable to talk about it. I got a lot of flak for it.

"Saif Ali Khan and John Abraham were couple of few people who stood up for me. Everyone from Shekhar Suman to Ruby Bhatia said, 'How can I talk about all this in public?' For me, it was not about him or me, it was about something larger. We need to empower our women to speak."

She says, both as an actor and a producer, she has never worked in an uncomfortable work environment.

"Ninety per cent of the crew that work with me are there since my childhood and which is why I do not want to work too much outside because the people I work with are as important for me as my role.

"For no amount of money or love will I work with people I do not trust. Casting couch does exist and it exists everywhere, when there is an exchange of power. If two adults decide to consent, who are we to judge that? It comes down to women's will."

She says 90 per cent of sexual abuse cases are domestic in nature but no one talks about it fearing its adverse effects on the family system.

"You are often told by people, 'Let it be. Why talk about it as it will unnecessarily upset the power structure?' You are afraid of being ostracised. When you speak the truth, you find yourself in a minority.

"If you are not willing to be a lone wolf, keep your truth to yourself. If you want acceptance and your truths to be spoken, it is a slippery slope," she adds.

Pooja, 46, is of the opinion that it is wrong to assume that men are not harassed.

"Women can be equally vile, big bullies. It is unfair to paint every man with the same brush. There are decent men as well."

She says that both men and women need to work together for creating a safer environment.

"If we have to win this war, we have to do it with men. It is not about women against men."

On the work front, Pooja's home production film "Cabaret" is currently streaming on ZEE5.

She is set to make a comeback to acting with "Sadak 2". The actor will also be seen in a web series based on Abheek Barua's book, "A City of Death".