Shah Rukh Khan is currently in China for a special show of his recent release Zero. The Anand L Rai directed film is being screened as the closing film of the Beijing Film Festival on Saturday. While in Beijing, Shah Rukh Khan was interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter and one of the questions posed to the actor was about the #MeToo movement in Bollywood and how things have changed in the film industry since.
Answering the question, SRK first acknowledged the courage that the women who came out with their stories had, “I would like to say that it took great courage for these ladies to come forward — some of them shortly after their experiences, some of them years later. We should all respect the bravery that this required.”
Shah Rukh also stressed that it was something that the industry needs to make sure doesn’t happen again, “I also think we need to respect this enough to make sure it doesn't just become a media sensation, or a bunch of memes and scandals on social media — it shouldn't be treated that way. Because then it could just become a fad, if I may use that word. This is something we need to take note of seriously and make sure it doesn't happen.”
Speaking about the reaction of the industry to the movement, SRK said that he was proud of the response in India, he felt that the response was very clear cut and it spelt out that “this kind of behaviour at any kind of workplace is unacceptable.”
Shah Rukh Khan also said that people’s apathetic attitude towards sexual harassment incidents had changed since the movement. “I'm very proud that lots of people in the film industry, and other workplaces, have become aware and are taking note of it. We are now understanding that this is everyone's responsibility. I think it's a good thing. It feels wrong to say "good thing," because I wish none of it ever happened.”
(Source: The Hollywood Reporter)
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