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Exclusive: Raveena Tandon on Me Too: I have been wooed & flirted with; I was the kind who would name & shame
In an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, Raveena Tandon spoke about her take on Me Too movement in India and how it has brought about a change in the mindsets of men in Bollywood. Read her full interview to know what she thinks about sexual harassment at workplaces.
With the wave of change beginning in India with the start of the #MeToo movement, the center of attraction has been the Indian Film Industry. Many big names have come out with the movement gaining momentum and working women from the industry have received a lot of support from Bollywood and media. With personalities like Alok Nath, Vikas Bahl, Kailash Kher, Sajid Khan and more among the accused, the whole nation’s attention is focused on Bollywood and who will be next to be pointed out.
Amidst the support that the movement is getting, many Bollywood actors have spoken out and have extended their support to the survivors. Amongst them, a famous actress, Raveena Tandon too spoke about the Me Too movement quite openly and has taken a strong stand against sexual harassment at work places by men. She was recently appointed to the sexual harassment committee of CINTAA to look into complaints of sexual misconduct. In an exclusive interview with Pinkvilla, she spoke about her own experiences over the years with men from the Industry.
Read the excerpts from her interview:
Pinkvilla: We wanted to speak to you about the #MeToo movement . What’s your take on the fact that a number of women have come out against many big names from the industry?
Raveena Tandon: I tell people, Der Aaye, Durust Aaye. Never too late for this to happen. In fact, India had the opportunity to have their Me Too movement many, many years ago before it started in Hollywood or in America because our women have been speaking out ever since. Unfortunately, I believe that there was no solid support for them whether it was through even the media, I am sorry but I hold the Media responsible also big for it. They never paid that kind of attention to stories like this. That would have made a world of a difference even then. But, like I said, that it is great that we have the media support today and we didn't have support earlier from organisations or unions bodies as well. Because everyone lived in certain fear. But now, like I said, it’s never too late and the support we have now is overwhelming. And I also feel that there are a lot more women in our workplaces. Be it camera women or women editors or director or choreographers,there are more women in the workplaces and thus, the movement has a lot more strong hold and its not completely biased and male-dominated.
Pinkvilla: Will the #MeToo movement bring about a change in people’s mindset or in the way things have been going on in the industry from some time?
Raveena Tandon: I definitely feel it will. The change has already begun. This movement is already bearing fruit. If men have held power over working women, women who want to make a career, who are since about their work. And unfortunately, these workplaces were not safe for them, from sexual predators. Women were succumbed to this kind of treatment for what? Just because they wanted to make a decent career, work hard or be sincere to their work that they had to be taken advantage of? It’s really shameful, here there are women who are stepping out of their homes to make a decent career, and then they have to face harassment like this. Men held power over work by punishing them if they didn't compromise by throwing them off projects or harming them at their workplaces and that power is being taken away from them now and they are being named and shamed. I think that is fantastic and you can see heads are rolling. At least there is an instant fear in people now that they can’t take advantage of any one who walks through that door who wants to sincerely work. Who is willing to work hard and make a career for themselves.
Pinkvilla: This change was needed in the film industry and things were going on for quite some time. Since you have been a part of the industry...
Raveena Tandon: I’ll tell you something. It’s not only my industry. I have seen it happening in media too. I have seen it in airlines. These things also happen in Politics. This happens everywhere. So, let’s not zero it down to my industry. I am saying that we all, at Pan India level, want it to be a safer working environment for working women. Is that too much to ask for? There need to be certain guidelines, certain clauses. There is Vishkaha act and then there is also the sexual harassment act. Nonetheless, these things need to be implemented and there need to be certain working rules in workplaces and even men need to make that special effort. See to it that things are transparent and things are safe for women colleagues.
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Pinkvilla: You have been a part of the industry for so long. Many actresses have come out with their Me Too story like Renuka Shahane. During your course of working, did you ever feel uncomfortable while working in a certain environment or while working with someone at that time?
Raveena Tandon: You know, I have been lucky enough and I have been fortunate that I have not been sexually harassed. Yes, there is a difference between Sexual harassment and being flirted with or someone making a pass at you. I hope people learn to differentiate between that. Yes, I have been made passes at and I have been wooed and flirted with. I think that is normal and that is not only in my industry. That is a normal thing to happen, But Sexual harassment hasn't happened with me. I think everyone knew that I was the kind of who would name and shame someone right away and No one really mess with me. Yes, I can say that certain amount of professional harassment has happened with me and I have been speaking about it ever since.
Pinkvilla: Now, that you are a part of CINTAA's sexual harassment grievance committee, what is your take on the course of action that needs to be taken in such cases if someone from industry or media files a complaint about the same ?
Raveena Tandon: We have not really had a meeting where we have consolidated any kind of action yet. But, we are working on suggestions and guidelines to put in certain rules and clauses where woman actors are protected from sexual and professional harassment. There will be certain guidelines for that definitely.
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Pinkvilla: Amidst all the attention on our country and so many women coming out, there was a recent name of a comedian Varun Grover that came out and people came out in his support that he might be a wrongful victim of the movement. What do you have to say about that?
Raveena Tandon: See, I am clearly telling you that I don’t know anything about Varun Grover and that I have not read about him. I cannot comment on him. But, my request to people and to women is that not to trivialize this movement. We are talking about sexual harassment at the workplace and professional harassment that is a serious issue. Trivializing it or falsely using this, which in many cases, even the laws that protect women from rape have been falsely used by women. The only thing is that we also come to know who is genuine or not. My appeal would be not to trivialize it. Because the movement will be lost then. It will become a mockery. Real and genuine cases will become the losers in this bargain then.
Pinkvilla: The movement is gaining momentum and is going in the right direction. Some names that have come out have been shocking for people. Do you think any more women will come out with names from the industry?
Raveena Tandon: I think this is the tip of the iceberg, I think if this goes in the right direction and women receive support, I think there’s lot more to come.
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