Parineeti Chopra on Tanushree Dutta, #MeToo movement: If women don't speak now, they'll be suppressed forever
Tanushree Dutta created a wave in the film industry with her scorching allegations in veteran actor Nana Patekar and also filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri. After a week of mud-slinging, Nana Patekar and Vivek Agnihotri slapped a legal case against the Aashiq Banaya Aapne actress. Amid this controversy, Bollywood has already picked sides. After cousin Priyanka Chopra, Namaste England actress Parineeti Chopra expressed her views on the matter while launching her song Proper Patola.
She was present at the launch event with her co-star Arjun Kapoor and film director Vipul Amrutlal Shah.
Asked whether she feels that Tanushree's outburst is a start of the #MeToo movement in India, Parineeti said: "Honestly, I really hope that it's not a start of #MeToo movement because it will mean that there are a lot more stories like this and I really hope this is first and last story if it is true.
"I really hope this is not the start. Having said that, if there are any victims, especially women in the industry, then I want every woman to come out in the open and speak because if they don't speak now, they will forever be suppressed."
Citing her own example, Parineeti said: "Personally, I have never gone through such an experience, but God forbid, if it would have happened with me, then I would have never kept quiet about it. So, which is why I don't think being quiet is the solution ever.
"This is something serious that has happened to somebody and it's the worst thing that can happen to a woman. If we can't feel protected in our industry and in our country, then how can I do anything? So, I hope this is all untrue and I hope this has not happened, but if it has then we will all support her.
"I really hope this is not a start of #MeToo movement because it will be terrible if there are more stories existing in the film industry."
On his part, Arjun said: "I have two sisters who work in the industry, so as a human being who has sisters, I would want that any woman should feel safe. It happens everywhere and it's a reality and now a woman has come forward to speak the truth. If she is speaking the truth, then definitely she will win."
Arjun said people first need to listen to a person.
"The problem in our country is that we start heated debates after a revelation and because of that people fear about speaking the truth. She has revealed something that is so dreadful, so she deserves to be heard before people become judgmental, take sides and point fingers at each other.
"It's a question that has been raised on everybody and it happens in all parts of our country. As human beings, we have to introspect. As men, we have to give equality to women and we have to allow safer working environment to women."
Namaste England is the sequel to the hit film Namastey London which starred Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in lead roles. The sequel has Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor in lead roles. The film is slated to release on October 19, clashing with Ayushmann Khurrana’s Badhaai Ho.
