Film critic Rajeev Masand sat down with the actresses that made headlines this year in a round-table discussion on various of things and issues. The panel included Rani Mukerji, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Tabu, Tapsee Pannu and Anushka Sharma. One such issue discussed was the #MeToo movement that shook entire Bollywood and media industry this year. Vikas Bahl, Sajid Khan, Kailash Kher, Alok Nath, Zulfi Syed, Nana Patekar are major names that have been accused of harassment by various females from the industry.
While many celebrities have come out to support the movement by being vocal about it, by supporting the victims and by boycotting the accused, #MeToo was certainly meant to be discussed at this actresses round-table. While Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Anushka Sharma put across sensible points, Rani Mukerji kept emphasizing on martial arts and self defense.
While Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma were debating on how to create safer work-environment in the industry, Rani Mukerji kept making her point on self defense.
According to Rani Mukerji, teaching martial arts to girls is the way to fight harassers. She goes further and says,
If girls started teaching harassers a lesson using martial arts, they will feel fearful while teasing other girls next time.
Deepika made a valid counter point and said,
I don’t think everyone is constructed with that sort of DNA unfortunately.
To which, Rani gave a rather immature statement.
We need to talk to these women and tell them, yaar you need to change.
Anushka Sharma gave a perfect reply.
But that’s again talking about how women need to change, rather than the other way around.
While Rani Mukerji was still taking about martial arts and self defense, Alia Bhatt put across another valid point about the harassment younger girls are facing.
You have to take responsibility of your own self. You have to make martial arts compulsory in schools.
Deepika summed it up rightly,
We’re now talking about self defense. I’m saying why even get to that stage? Why should we even allow it? Why do we even need to reach to a stage where I need to learn how to defend myself?
Anushka said,
Environment needs to be so transparent that things do not happen so easily.
While Deepika, Alia and Anushka were putting right points across, Rani Mukerji kept interrupting them with ‘martial arts’ comment.
While she is not absolutely wrong, but we all have to agree to Deepika here. Why do we even need to reach a stage where martial arts is needed? Why can’t we stop the harassment from happening? Here’s the clip that has created the stir on social media.
Deepika, Anushka, And Alia really were making great points while Rani here makes martial arts noises. You can’t make this shit up. pic.twitter.com/sceqsEj71N
— Doe (@doepikapadukone) December 29, 2018
While most of the internet users are lauding Deepika, Anushka and Alia, people are not happy with Rani’s views.
1.
And to point her out on the point she made on mothers upbringing their sons and daughters in a wrong way; well where do you think that mothers with internalized misogyny are coming from? They are the product of a patriarchal system. They have been conditioned to think that women
— البیلا راہی (@unlovablefuck) December 30, 2018
happening in this way.
You objectify women from head to toe, leaving no space for her to breathe and make her own decisions or consider herself human even and then you have the audacity to dump the blame of all of your doings upon her shoulders.
Matlab wow. Way to go.— البیلا راہی (@unlovablefuck) December 30, 2018
2.
I am so pissed at Rani right now. I mean I get where she is coming from but what she says reeks of privilege. Think of the majority of the women in Pak and India. How can you expect them to raise their voices or to give a man a shut up call right then and there.
— Nida Jaffery (@nidafjaffery) December 30, 2018
3.
Leave 3 y/o, how are you going to teach martial arts to a 8 months old infant? I mean putting abusers in their place is a tough job s blaming and "equipping" kids/girls with basic self defense skills is easy. Cool hogya
— Gone Rainberry Girl (@TheBon_Viveur2) December 30, 2018
4.
It's not fault of Rani but ours who think bollywood is somehow full of bright or people connected to the reality on the contrary they have time and again proved they lack that depth n understanding of social issues but our infatuation with stars refuse to belive their mediocrity.
— Another Indian (@fb_pirater) December 30, 2018
5.
Looks like Rani just figured out that it's uncool to blame the women for wearing short clothes to 'entice' men so she has shifted her narrative to 'women should be strong enough to end it there' and 'teach martial arts' to all women.
— Damsel in distress (@scarlet_silk) December 30, 2018
6.
She keeps saying we should change the women, that it's possible to "talk to women and tell them to get tougher" but then also says we can't be responsible for others actions only for our own. Why can't the men be responsible for their actions then? The responsibility only lies-
— lil jalebi ✨💓 (@gvyvthri) December 31, 2018
7.
It's not even Rani'a fault. It's the program designer who chose her to speak about a topic which she is not educated about. She is not helping anyone. She does not even know what she is talking about. Society has ingrained misogynistic behaviour equally in women.
— Damsel in distress (@scarlet_silk) December 30, 2018
I don't understand why does society shy away from holding men accountable for their actions 🤦🏼♀️ Instead of providing solutions to women 🤦🏼♀️
— Damsel in distress (@scarlet_silk) December 30, 2018
8.
Learning self-defense etc is great.. but what Rani is not addressing is.. that a predator is a predator.. and they don't care whether you have learnt to defend yourself or not.. many times mind games are played.. personal space is violated.. there are many forms of harrasement
— Aneeta (@AneetaRadoja) December 29, 2018
9.
I rolled my eyes so hard when Rani started with the whole “nobody-could-that-to-me”. Does she not know that most me too incidents aren’t simple white and black stories! These perpetrators are master manipulators & most of the victim is unaware of what really happened.
— Alisha (@Alisha37397114) December 29, 2018
10.
I wrote how fundamentally wrong Rani’s take on mee too was. Someone replied that Rani was “actually right “& that men should obviously change but women should also take responsibility. Responsibility for what? Making sure a man doesn’t rape her. Absurd!!!
— Alisha (@Alisha37397114) December 29, 2018
11.
Alia even mentioned that most of these victims are young children or incest rape. It’s happening at homes and schools where kids shouldn’t fear anything. And Rani just goes “martial arts” like would would a kid have to learn to fight her uncle?!?
— Doe (@doepikapadukone) December 29, 2018
12.
Rani's views are incredibly regressive. All these women are talking about changing inappropriate male behaviour & here she is with her geriatric views that women should protect themselves! Bitch, these things have happened despite that. Also, stop trying to grab attention. Sssh!
— hell yeah (@CherryColaZing) December 29, 2018
13.
Was really disappointed in her just by this discussion. Really? Being a woman how can she say that. And deepika really made such a good point when she said why should it even reach a point where women are compelled to learn martial arts. It should b nibbed in the bud
— Neeraja R Kutty (@NeerajaRKutty) December 30, 2018
14.
Ok I agree
Adults can protect themselves by learning martial arts
What about babies and small 2-3 year old kids who are raped and molested
Matlab paida hote hi Martial arts seekh le insan
Ye kon sa logic hai?— 💜PromiseJimin to stream DNA💜 (@sonpapadbts) December 30, 2018
15.
Rani's self-defence idea is poorly thought out. If the predator is the father or a family member in the house, the child will be punished for attacking them. There will be manipulation and scare tactics used. Many families stay quiet and do nothing even after the truth is out.
— simplypurple ⚡ (@4simplypurple) December 29, 2018
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