Actress Tanushree Dutta helped trigger the #MeToo movement in India last year, and months have gone into the investigation of her sexual harassment case. But her sister and actress Ishita Dutta says that thanks to Tanushree, now people are acknowledging that harassment is a serious issue.
Tanushree alleged that she was sexually harassed by actor Nana Patekar on a film's set in 2008. She revisited the incident last year, sparking India's #MeToo movement. The actress is still fighting for justice.
Asked if the police are slowing down the investigation, Ishita told IANS, "I don't know about the case, but I know about that day. Had they (police) not reached at that minute, things would have got worse."
Referring to a video of Tanushree's car being attacked in 2008, Ishita said, "You must have seen the video. Had it not been the cops, probably the car's windshield would have broken."
She is glad that her sister—a former beauty queen—spoke up about the incident and encouraged others to follow suit. "We were all there and heard it. It was all in the media. Unfortunately, that time people didn't really understand. Now, I think women have also taken it as a responsibility to speak up or support.
"A movement can't happen with just one person...and not just women, a lot of male actors have come together to support this. They are now acknowledging that harassment is a serious issue. People are ready to listen. That's what has changed," she said.
The 2008 incident didn't make Tanushree demotivate her younger sister from joining showbiz. "She is one of the reasons why I joined the industry... She motivated me a lot. And now, a lot of women look up to her. They are so proud of her for speaking up and starting something which was so required," said Ishita, who made her acting debut with a Telugu film in 2012.
Did she warn Ishita against harassment in the industry? "I have been lucky enough not to face anything like this, but I know that a lot of friends have... in different industries. It does leave a scar. It's a very tragic and traumatising thing to happen," she said.
Ishita will soon be seen in the upcoming TV show Bepanah Pyaarr.
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