In 2018, the #MeToo movement took the Hindi film industry to storm when actress Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual misconduct on the set of Horn Ok Pleassss. This sparked a broader conversation about harassment in Indian cinema. More recently, the movement gained attention with a 235-page report by the Justice K Hema Committee, which detailed cases of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. Despite the movement’s visibility, the impact on the industry’s practices has been mixed.
In an interview, Tanushree opened up about the personal and professional costs of speaking out. Despite the movement’s significance, she has not been able to return to a film set in the past six years. “I was approached by two #MeToo accused to work on their films, but I declined because I didn’t want to set a wrong precedent,” she shared.
Tanushree Dutta emphasized the need for solidarity within the industry. “What’s needed is for every single actor to make a little sacrifice for the cause,” she explained. In 2018, she was offered a major film by a prominent producer, but she turned it down because the director was implicated in the #MeToo movement. “Who’s losing in this bargain? Me. I haven’t done film work in a long, long time,” she admitted, adding that she has since focused on appearances and brand events.
Her desire is to lead films centered on women empowerment, but the ongoing repercussions of #MeToo continue to limit her opportunities. Tanushree also revealed that some of her signed projects were sabotaged due to her stance, which further affected her career.
Hopefully we will see her on the big screen soon.
