Bollywood broke out into a massive support spirit for Director Anurag Kashyap ever since actress Payal Ghosh had accused him of sexual misconduct.
Talking to Mumbai Mirror, Taapsee Pannu promises to break all ties with Kashyap if the allegation turns out to be true but until then she wishes for everyone to wait for the truth.
“Anurag has a lot of respect for women, never badmouths anyone even if that person hasn’t been kind to him in public. His is one of those rare sets where the number of women on the crew equals men, and they only have nice things to say about him. If someone has been harassed, let them initiate an investigation, let the truth come out. If he is found guilty, I’ll be the first person to break all ties with him,” Taapsee says.
Pannu continues saying, “But if the investigation is inconclusive, how can the sanctity of the #MeToo movement be sustained? How will real victims benefit from a power that’s come to us after years of suppression? It’s wrong for women to derail the movement. Abusing power isn’t gender-specific.“
“I try very hard to remain neutral too, but my conscience won’t allow it. If I keep mum, I feel like I am deaf and dumb, someone who can’t even stand up for an industry that has given her her identity. I don’t understand why we have to live in fear if we don’t have any skeletons in our closet,” she says when asked about how a lot of people opt to take a neutral stand on issues as sensitive as this.
“I don’t take names because I hate the sin, not the sinner. But for myself, I can’t be spineless and heartless. If I am in a position where what I say matters, why stay quiet? Speaking out helps me sleep better.”