Even all the way in New Jersey, actor Tanushree Dutta hasn’t given up the fight for #MeToo and to call out all those guilty of charges of sexual harassment - in the Indian film industry. Tanushree will be appearing in a short film called Inspiration, directed by Atul Bhalla, which will reportedly bring Bollywood’s sexual harassment stories to the screen, as it releases on 8 March - to mark International Women’s Day.
Speaking to Mid-Day, Tanushree said that she assumed the role of a guardian angel in the film, encouraging young girls to do the right thing in cases of harassment. The former model reportedly shot for the film during her eight-month stay in India last year - also when she had resurfaced her allegations against Patekar.
However, it remains to be seen whether the film will mention the real names of actors and incidents that have taken place within the industry. When asked by the newspaper, Tanushree said: “It is a new format where reality meets fiction.”
“The film deals with the issue of wilful exploitation of young newcomers in showbiz or any other field where they don’t have mentors or guidance.”Tanushree Dutta to Mid-Day
She also said that she had been approached by Ullu, the online content platform that is producing the film.
As for the content, she said that she had written some of the dialogues of the film herself, based on her real-life experiences of facing sexual harassment, the Mid-Day report added.
“I wrote the dialogues, inspired by my own insight and understanding on the matter. I was excited to face the camera after nine years because this time, I was not only entertaining but also imparting wisdom to the misled and unfortunate.”Tanushree Dutta to Mid-Day
The film will also feature actors Ishani Sharma and Taranjeet Kaur.
Tanushree had, in a sense, opened the gates to the MeToo movement in India. After her allegations against Patekar surfaced after years, charges of sexual harassment against many noted names in the industry - Rajkumar Hirani, Vikas Bahl, Rajat Kapoor, Chetan Bhagat, Alok Nath, Anu Malik and Kailash Kher - were brought to light.
(With inputs from Mid-Day)
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