New Delhi, Oct 26: Former Miss India Sayali Bhagat has decided to quit Bollywood film industry in disgust. In a statement, the 27 year old actor has levelled serious sexual harassment charges against Big B, Sajid Khan and Aarya Babbar, apart from her earlier charge against Shiney Ahuja.
Sayali in a statement said she does not want anything to do with Bollywood after suffering 7 years of sexual harassment from seniors, veterans, colleagues in the industry and has decided to shift to Milan.
Here's her Official Press Statement:
"As I gear up to lodge a police complaint against Shiney (Ahuja) and his wife Anupam, I have another big announcement to make. I am quitting films for good, and shall be moving to Milan to pursue a full time career in modeling. Before I leave the industry for good, I would like to make a few things clear. Shiney is not the only one who has made passes at me or sexually harassed me in the film industry.
It is an industry filled with lechers who treat women like me like a piece of meat. Everyone wants a piece of you. I would like to bring to the media's notice some first hand experiences.
Sexual Harassment from Amitabh Bachchan: Recently, at the launch of the first look of Tinu Verma's film This Weekend, Mr Amitabh Bachchan was the chief guest.
Like everybody else, even I bent down to touch his feet to seek his blessings. Amitabh placed his hand on my butt and felt it up. I was too stunned to say anything to anyone. He should show some respect. After all, he is a 70 year old man, my grandfather's age. I felt like slapping him the moment he placed his hand on my butt.
Sexual Harassment from Fimmaker Sajid Khan: "I remember the time when Sajid Khan was casting for Housefull, he had called me to his office for a meeting.
I understand that the casting couch is a prevalent reality in the film industry but I never expected Sajid to strip naked in front of me asking me to have sex with him in his office right there and then. I screamed and left his building. Obviously, I never worked with him
Sexual Harassment from co-star Aarya Babbar: Aarya and I started out as very good friends when we starting shooting for our film Choron Ki Baraat, till he got really aggressive about us becoming "friends with benefits". Till date, he has sent me countless lewd messages, and graphic MMS's of his private parts to lure me into bed. I had chosen to keep quiet and ignore. But not anymore.
There are so many of us who are silently suffering this kind of harassment for so many years. But I can't take it anymore. I am fed up of being treated like an available piece of meat and the only reason I am sharing all this with my media friends, is because I don't believe in taking harassment lying down. It is high time the truth came out.
I will be filing police complaints against Shiney, Sajid, Aarya and Mr Bachchan and take them all to court if need be. I hope my efforts will not go in vain and I look forward to having the media's support."
