Barfi and Jagga Jasoos fame Anurag Basu, the Bollywood film director, thinks that #MeToo movement will introduce a positive change, making the industry a safer workplace for women.
In an interview, Basu told IANS: “I strongly believe that the #MeToo movement will make Bollywood a safer place to work for everyone. I am glad that people are coming up with their experience and sharing it in the public. This will make everyone conscious and they will think twice before indulging in any misconduct and sexual harassment.”
He further added, “I think this should have happened a long ago.” Giving an example, he said: “One of the very reasons why new actresses come for an audition along with their parents or friends and not alone is because they do not feel safe and secure.
According to Basu, “The perception of our industry to outsiders is certainly not very clean. Girls really fear and feel insecure before joining the industry because of such incidents (of casting couch and sexual harassment). I think with this movement, the place will become much safer for everyone.”
Nevertheless, Basu feels it’s not right to make a generalization.
He concludes, “In every industry, there are bad and good people. Just because there are some bad people, that does not mean good and hardcore professional people don’t exist. As members of the fraternity, we should stand together to let the bad energy go."