Actress Aditi Rao Hydari on Tuesday added her voice to the growing #MeToo campaign that has so far seen several women in the media and those across various industries including cinema out predators at work. Talking about her own experience, Hydari said: “Stepping into cinema and working on your own terms is tough, but not impossible. I am an example of this. My opportunities might become fewer, but I have to choose how I want to deal with it. I had one bad experience and I stepped out from that, though I had a three-film deal. I was new and naive, but I have been brought up in a way where I know how to stand for my dignity. So I let go of an opportunity if it requires me to compromise on my dignity.”
The actress also refused to call the film industry unsafe for women.
“In film business or any business for that matter, there are people with different mindsets. Some would be compassionate and respectful, some might just be womanisers, but how can we generalise that? That is wrong, I guess…”
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Talking about why she is not a leading actress yet despite receiving appreciation for her acting skills, Hydari said: “I really do not have an answer to that, but I want to say that I am happy with the opportunities that I have got in the last few years across regions in Indian cinema. I have worked with some iconic filmmakers. For some, success is to be the highest paid celebrity, while for others, it might be the number of awards. Honestly, I feel privileged when a celebrated filmmaker offers me a role so that I can be a part of his vision. That is success for me.”
Her statement about the #MeToo campaign rallied for support for those who have come out and named abusers.
#MeTooIndia pic.twitter.com/pGR4zkJnYS
— Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari) October 9, 2018