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| Edited By: Sarita A Tanwar |Source: DNA |Updated: Apr 29, 2016, 08:10 AM IST
My phone began ringing hours after Adhyayan Suman’s explosive interview about his ex-girlfriend Kangana Ranaut in After Hrs. Reactions ranged from shock to horror. Almost everyone sympathised with the lad and the trauma he and his family went through. There were doubters as well. Twenty-four hours after the paper hit stands, the reactions are still pouring in. Listed here are some responses to what an editor of another newspaper called The Story Of The Year.
One producer said, “There is no reason to doubt that what Adhyayan is saying is true. It’s not coming from a place of revenge. If that was the case, he would have spoken up seven years ago, when they split. I loved his honesty. Somewhere in the interview, he confesses that if you’d asked him five years ago if he was happy for her, the answer would have been no. But now, he is over that. It’s heartening to see how many people are reaching out to him and sympathising with him over this. Usually, men don’t get support in situations like this. They also don’t want to seem weak, so they project a macho image. It is a big deal if a guy is talking about violence and abuse, and is risking coming across as a loser. So hats off to him for coming out with his story. It will be cathartic now that he has got it off his chest.”
Many actors, who’ve eaten food cooked at the actress’s home or on the set are panicking after Adhyayan’s ‘impure-blood-in-food’ revelation. I could sense the worry in his voice when an actor called me sometime in the afternoon (it’s morning for him) and said, “She sent me home-made ladoos on my birthday. Should I be worried? I suddenly have a bad feeling about this.” I told him I really couldn’t answer that, and that he needs to call his tarot reader. A former member of the actress’s team said, “I remember she’d often feed me and other guests at her home, but she and her sister would never touch the food themselves and say, “Hum diet pe hain, aap khao.” A journalist texted me to say, “I am feeling sick after reading this story. I once had coffee and snacks at her house.” I laughed and said to her she didn’t have anything to worry about. Except being called namak-haram if she ever went against the actress.
The naysayers questioned how a girl can hit a guy. A PR girl says on the condition of anonymity,”I have seen Adhyayan bruised and crying. He seemed powerless and helpless.” Why is it so hard to believe that a woman can hit a man? It’s very real. Just last month, I read a story about two women who drugged and raped a man for 36 hours. I am still trying to wrap my head around how a man can be raped. But just because I or you cannot imagine something, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. Violence against men is very real. According to The Guardian, about 40% men face domestic abuse. The report also said that media and cops ignore or underplay violence against men and highlight crime against women.
An actress who is Kangana’s contemporary, said, “I feel bad for her. She clearly needs help. Why is her family not pushing her to speak to a counsellor? Life in the limelight and the pressures that comes with success are hard to deal with and there is no shame in seeking help to cope with it. Deepika has spoken about depression, Anushka has spoken about anxiety. Even if she doesn’t make a public confession about it, she needs to talk to someone.”
Then there was a barrage of enquiries. Random relative: “Do you have the number of that astrologer she went to?” Person from the web team: “Can you send me the link of that Dus Ka Dum video in which that astrologer called her a pishachini (demoness)? Friend from TV channel: “May I have Adhyayan’s number? Do you think he will talk?” Nosy neighbour: “Are you going to do an interview with his father Shekhar Suman next?” Struggling actress: “Even I want to expose my boyfriend. Will you put me on the cover?” Mom: “I didn’t think you believed in black magic.” Cook: “What you want for dinner?” Thank God some things never change.
