Women, whether they are public figures or not, are always under scrutiny – right from what they say, do, and wear, especially the latter always get undue attention. It’s reassuring when public figures or celebrities, who are role models to many, choose not to pander to niceties and slam haters, thereby starting a dialogue on women’s rights and fight against body policing. Even a hint of harassment that puts them in an uncomfortable position is now talked about openly, with the recent Taylor Swift trial recognised as a landmark decision where she sued her harasser as a way of claiming back her body.
Closer home, Indian actresses, too, are opening up about the harassment they face. Even if it’s a deliberate touch that lasts for a few seconds, actresses are claiming back their body, shaming their haters, and talking about the need to educate men instead of telling women to find ways to protect themselves.
Here’s to all the women who refuse to be silent or silenced.
When Priyanka Chopra knew better than to listen to trolls
For Priyanka Chopra, it was just another day – trolls telling her what to wear, how to speak, and more expletives when she fails to be their “ideal” Bharitya naari. Her response is always razor-sharp and subtle.
The actress met Prime Minister Narendra Modi back in May in Germany. She shared a photograph of the two engaged in conversation, and the response to that photo wasn’t quite like what she’d have thought.
Abuse2
She, however, shut all her haters down with her sass.
She was again recently trolled for wearing a tri-coloured scarf while wishing her fans ‘Happy Independence Day’. While she hasn’t responded to that, we’re sure it would be something along the lines of this collage:
Piggy
Esha Gupta questions people’s mentality
Actress Esha Gupta exudes confidence and her photos attest to her terrific modelling skills. Recently, she, too, came under fire for putting up topless photos of herself on Instagram.
Not one to be bogged by haters, she took a break and then went back to uploading nude photographs of herself from the shoot with witty captions. She told The Times of India, “And who are these people who have ‘issues’ with my pictures? It’s my body and it’s been shot aesthetically… Men tend to have a problem if a woman goes bold. Their manhood is challenged.”
When Kalki Koechlin educated her slut-shamers about the male gaze
Kalki Koechlin shrugged off the hateful comments she received for posting a nude picture of herself, telling Mid-Day , “I have never been ashamed of whatever I do.” She shared a photograph of herself, nude, on Instagram, and drew the wrath of several people who thinks slut shaming her would bring her into her senses.
“As women, we often are depicted through a man’s perspective, but this picture was clicked by a woman photographer. That’s why I found it significant to share the photograph,” she said.
Earlier in the year, she had starred in a short film titled Naked which deals issues like with invasion of privacy, online abuse and slut shaming that actresses often face.
When Ileana D’Cruz didn’t mince her words
The 29-year-old actress took to Twitter to talk about an unpleasant experience with a fan. Instead of brushing it off, she chose to talk about how such experiences are traumatising for a woman, whether she is a celebrity or not.
It’s a pretty shitty world we live in. I’m a public figure. I understand that I don’t have the luxury of a private & an anonymous life.(1/2)
— Ileana D’Cruz (@Ileana_Official) August 20, 2017
But that doesn’t give any man the right to misbehave with me. Don’t confuse “fan antics” with that. I am a WOMAN at the end of the day.(2/2)
— Ileana D’Cruz (@Ileana_Official) August 20, 2017
No means no, says Vidya Balan
Vidya Balan in ‘Begum Jaan’
Begum JaanVidya Balan, a few months ago spoke about how she was inappropriately touched by a fan in Kolkata despite warning him thrice. Speaking to SpotboyE, she said:
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“A few days ago Bhatt saab (Mahesh Bhatt), Srijit Mukherji and I were returning form an event in Kolkata, and on the way back there was this man who put his arm around me. When a stranger puts his arm around you, be it a man or a woman, you’re a bit….because it’s intruding into your private space. So I said, “don’t”. He put it again. My manager saw that and she said please don’t, and he still did it the third time. So I said “Listen don’t. What do you think you’re doing? This is absolutely wrong. You know, we’re public figures, not public property.”
When Varu Sarathkumar taught her harasser a lesson
Back in February, actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar wrote a long response to the harassment, sexism, and misogyny that prevails in the film industry, and related media worlds.
In her tweet-story, the actress started with a personal incident, and went on to talk about the way in which women are policed, their value reduced to their physical appearance, and their work discounted. One of the few to speak up about something like this, Varalaxmi’s call to action is just one of the ways to fight back.
Needs to be said..!! pic.twitter.com/GjJimBIKd3
— varu sarathkumar (@varusarath) February 20, 2017
With more and more actresses coming out and speaking against violence, hopefully this might trickle down to the films they choose to be a part of and start a dialogue about such behaviour as opposed to normalising harassers and their claim over the woman’s body.