Sipping the Gossips with Goher Iqbal Punn
Sexual harassment not only does it exist in Bollywood scene but also in other showbiz fraternities like fashion and even in every field, it shows its signs of existence. Where the women work or every place where the presence of women is found, the sexual harassment is witnessed. Since the women are found more in entertainment fraternity and the field is bolder than others, the sexual harassment is witnessed more than the rest here. The reason behind the scenario is the attraction which drags the people towards the glittering and when they come to join it, they have to give the price (not in all cases but since evils live everywhere, these things happen).
This is not new in Bollywood industry rather has been showing its existence since the outset. I was reading a book of a noted showbiz journalist, who was the editor of a popular Mumbai-based film magazine and is still attached to a prominent showbiz publication, in which she revealed an incident how she was going to be victim of sexual harassment by the most famous filmmaker, who runs a big production house. She is a good human being and a through professional. I was in contact with her till some years back but she left the magazine. Later the busy life captured me from tip to toe thus I could not continue contact with her.
Well, the story she narrated in the book belongs to late 70s or early 80s era when she was quite young and the new entrant into the showbiz journalism. She was doing the interviews of the Bollywood celebrities by going on the film sets. She was there with the said filmmaker for his interview. As per the schedule, she was to spend the whole day with him to write her film diary.
She arrived on the sets in the morning, met up with the filmmaker over there – from there they had to move on other sets. She traveled along with him in his car. The day wrapped up and they ended up at a five star hotel. He asked her to join him in his room for the interview. The journalist was new, could not catch up the hidden meaning behind his saying to join him in the room. When someone asks the women to come to a room in a hotel – the sign is clear what he wants in actual? The young girl could not understand it, sat there in the lobby for a while and then followed him in his room to give her story the final touch with the filmmaker’s interview. By the time, she reached at the door, she was nervous but she knocked the door. The voice came ‘come, in’. The journalist stepped in and she saw the filmmaker sitting on a relaxing chair and there were evil signs on his face. He was totally different of what he was earlier that day. His facial expressions and his voice were totally different. He asked her to sit beside him. The lady journalist sensed the danger.
She was all alone with him. If he attacked on her, no one could rescue or protect her there. She dropped the idea and wanted to escape from the place. She stood up and rushed to the door, the filmmaker rushed after her to stop her. But she managed to escape. She was breathing fast. She left the hotel in haste without looking back, took the taxi and reached the office.
A model turned actress, who I share a good friendly rapport with, told that a reputed filmmaker offered her to have dinner with him at a five star hotel’s room in isolation. But since she puts her respect and dignity at top always, she turned down his offers. He is famous for being a big exploiter of women.
Recently we heard about an actress who accused of many big males of Bollywood saying they sexually harassed her. This and many other cases like this continue on the waves of cinema industry. You cannot stop them since evils reside at every place. Sexual harassment can only be stopped when the people do not respond to these kinds of offers. If you have talents, no one can stop you. So instead of adopting the shortcuts to get instant chance (which give birth to sexual harassments), have faith in your talents.
