Last year, Bollywood was hit by the #MeToo Movement. Several women came forward to name and shame those who had sexually harassed them at the workplace and otherwise.
This ugly issue raised its head again at the recent trailer launch of Ajay Devgn’s De De Pyaar De. One of the key actors in the film is Alok Nath, who has been accused of allegedly raping Vinta Nanda, the writer-producer of the television serial, Tara. The senior actor is out on bail in the matter.
On the podium at the trailer launch, a media person asked the leading man what his take was on the inclusion of Alok Nath in the film, especially since the senior artiste has been accused of a heinous crime. Ajay clarified that they had finished shooting before the #MeToo Movement took place.
However, a fresh round of media reports appeared two days ago. Once again, Vinta has expressed her disappointment with Ajay for not standing by his words. She has been quoted as saying, “I don’t expect anything from Ajay. I don’t think he is in a position to take a stand. The money riding on the project is the only dharma for them.”
Not wanting this to become a ‘she said, he said’ ongoing war of words, the Bollywood superstar sent out an open letter to media persons wherein he clarified his stand on the issue. His statement read as follows:
“When the entire #MeToo Movement happened, I along with many of my film industry colleagues categorically expressed that I respect every single woman at the work place and I would not stand for any unfairness or atrocity against them. Nothing about my stand has changed.”
“Coming to the question of having worked with Mr Alok Nath in my upcoming film De De Pyaar De, here, I must put certain things in perspective.
Alok Nath and Ajay Devgn in De De Pyaar De
“This film was supposed to be an October 2018 release. The shoot of the film got over by last September. The portions with Mr Alok Nath were canned by August in Manali. The said portions were shot over 40 days across various sets and an outdoor location with a combination of over 10 actors. By the time the allegations came out (in October 2018), the actors in the film including me had already started work on other films. It would be near impossible to get all the dates and combinations of the several actors in the film and attempt a re-shoot with some other actor replacing Mr Nath. It would also have been a huge monetary loss for the producers. Everyone is aware that film-making is a collaborative process. The decision to replace Mr Alok Nath could never have been mine alone. In this case, I would have to go with the joint-decision of the entire unit. Not to forget, I could not have brought the entire combination of actors back or put up sets again for a 40-day re-shoot because this would mean doubling the budget, which, again, wasn’t my call to make. It would have to be the call of the makers. Had circumstances played out even slightly differently, I would have pushed for a different combination of actors. Unfortunately, this was not to be.”
“I reiterate I am extremely sensitive to the #MeToo Movement. But when circumstances are beyond me, I don’t see why an attempt is being made to ‘single’ me out as being insensitive. This is untrue.”
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 "Ajay Devgn and Alok Nath")
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