Actors also use their sexuality to get things done: Ekta Kapoor
Mumbai: Indian film and television personality Ekta Kapoor says there are powerful producers who use their position to exploit aspirants in showbiz, but then there are also actors who use their sexuality to get work.
Ekta made the comment amid the hullabaloo over sexual harassment allegations that emerged across showbiz globally after several names in Hollywood came out against producer Harvey Weinstein, followed by complaints against a slew of actors and filmmakers.
She was present along with actress Nimrat Kaur on Mirror Now's show "The Town Hall", hosted by journalist Barkha Dutt. She was asked if a Harvey Weinstein also exists in Bollywood, and if the #MeToo campaign has helped women come out with their story in the entertainment industry.
Ekta said: "Well, I think there are Harvey Weinstein in Bollywood, but there is probably an equal number of Harvey Weinstein on the other side of the story, but people do not want to talk about that part. Yes, there are people in power like producers who use their power to take advantage of people, but at the same time there are people on the other side, like an actor or others who need the job, would also use their sexuality to get things done.
"Therefore, I believe that predators should not be put in a box based on power. It is always not true that the person who does not have power is the victim,.
Citing an example, Ekta said: "Being a producer, on a personal level when I talk to my male counterparts, they said they were propositioned blatantly. Is that person not a predator?
"In our industry, if one actor meets a producer at 2 a.m. and hooks up with him and after five days, if she wants a job based on that and the producer doesn't give the job because he wants personal and professional things separate, then who is the victim here? The interpretation is always that the powerful person took advantage of the poor little budding actor or something that is always not the truth."
Ekta's father Jeetendra was earlier this month accused of sexually harassing his cousin, who came forward to file a police complaint 47 years after the alleged incident. Jeetendra dubbed the charges as "baseless," and a "miserable effort by a jealous competitor to disrupt his business activities."
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Election results 2024: High stakes battle in Maharashtra, Jharkhand as evm’s open today
Mumbai: The stage is set for the high-stakes Maharashtra and Jharkhand assembly elections, as the results will start trickling in from 8 am.
In Maharashtra, the 288-seat assembly contest pitted the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) group, is eyeing a commanding victory, as suggested by most exit polls. The MVA alliance—comprising the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP is trying to reclaim the state.
Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the contest for the 81-seat assembly sees the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led INDIA bloc vying for a second term against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA. Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s JMM, along with allies Congress and RJD, faces a stiff challenge from the BJP, AJSU, and smaller partners. With exit polls giving mixed predictions, ranging from an NDA edge to a potential hung assembly.
Additionally, bypoll results in 15 assembly constituencies across states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand will also be announced today.
