The New York Times expose on movie moghul Harvey Weinstein 'revealed' to the outside world that he had been sexually harassing women in and around the entertainment business for decades. Within Hollywood, everyone was aware of the intimidation, harassment and even rape, yet no one spoke about it. He is after all, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood.
Ever since Ashley Judd named him, many other women have followed suit, including two of the most powerful women in Hollywood — Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow. Both have spoken about "uncomfortable experiences" with Weinstein early on in their careers. What empowers men like Weinstein is the silence of the victims and the people around him. I was asked if the same happens in Bollywood. We all know it happens in every industry. And like everywhere else, everyone knows who the culprits are.
A head honcho of a talent management company is infamous for inappropriate behaviour with actresses. He has some of the biggest actors as his clients. But you won't see any of them taking their business elsewhere. All they care about is the cheques he gets them. A couple of years ago, the pervert asked an upcoming actress to come to his office wearing sexy clothes so he could see her figure. Her live-in boyfriend, also an actor, called him and threatened to beat him up publicly. The offender hasn't mended his ways, he is just more discreet. Not many have the nerve to mess with someone who can mess with their career. And so it continues.
A second generation producer who incidentally is married to an actress, is known to make indecent proposals to small time actresses who approach him for roles. It is a pre-condition to cast them: Give in, or give up the role. An actor was upset with the producer when he put forth the condition to an actress he'd sent to him for a role. But then he argued, "It's wrong, but it's up to the girls. He isn't forcing himself. The casting couch exists because girls and boys give in. It's just how badly you want to make it in this profession."
Dr House famously said, "People don't get what they deserve, they just get what they get." And this small town girl got a top producer-director of the 90s for a boss. Her lecherous employer wouldn't quit trying to bed her. After months of ignoring his overtures, she asked him, "You know I am going to get married soon to the man I love, why do you still pursue me?" He said, "Beta, don't mix the two, woh kuch aur hai, yeh kuch aur hai." Disgusted, she put in her papers even though she needed the job.
A senior journalist once told me about her brush with an actor now in his 70s, when she was a newbie. In the middle of the interview, he got up, locked the cabin door, touched her, expecting her to respond to his advances. She told him she wasn't interested and he accepted it gracefully, unlocked the door and took his place behind the table. They remained friends. While we celebrate women coming out against one offender, I wonder if we really have something to celebrate!
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 "Harvey-Weinstein")
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