It's not like the world changed post #MeToo: Kiara Advani
Mumbai: Actor Kiara Advani says people today are finally having "uncomfortable conversations" about abuse and consent, but it's a stretch to assume that the world post the #MeToo movement has changed.
The #MeToo movement, which began in Hollywood, gained momentum in India in 2018, with women calling out comedians, journalists, authors, actors and filmmakers.
Kiara features in the latest Netflix Original film, "Guilty", which explores the different versions of truth that emerge when a small-town girl accuses the college heartthrob of rape.
In the post #MeToo world, the gaze has changed, but Kiara said the change isn't significant.
"It's not like #MeToo happened and the world changed. We don't live in a post #MeToo world. We live in the #MeToo world. We are not there yet," Kiara told PTI.
The actor, however, feels people who didn't question anything "uncomfortable" until now, have started to talk.
"Now it's shaking. We have always suppressed it. But now we are finally having these uncomfortable conversations. It's high time we did. Everything has to start with a conversation."
"Guilty" is produced by Karan Johar's Dharmatic, the digital content arm of the filmmaker's Dharma Production and helmed by Ruchi Narain.
The "Kabir Singh" actor says when she was narrated the script, its story enveloped her, making her constantly think of the film.
"The topic is not just relevant but is something that bothers each one of us in a very different way. To be a part of a story that somewhere gave me a character to even voice out a lot of my own thoughts about it, opinions, complications, confusions and all that about a subject as sensitive as this.
"Without being preachy, still telling so much. That for me was really liberating and the story itself, the way Ruchi has written it, the entire narrative, it really holds. It's an immersive experience."
"Guilty" happened to her when Kiara had signed big films, including Dharma's "Good Newwz" and "Shershah", but she never felt that doing a movie for the web would be any less than a theatrical high.
"I believe content comes in every form. If there is a film that I want to watch and I can see myself adding to it in some way, I want to be a part of it. With 'Guilty', it was Dharma doing their first feature film collaboration with Netflix, I had to be a part of it... Today, you have to be relevant. This is the next big step. Lines are blurred today," she adds.
"Guilty" also stars Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, Gurfateh Singh Pirzada and Taher Shabbir among others.
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Man booked for duping 7 persons of Rs 91 lakh on promise of awarding govt works
Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai police have registered a case against a man for allegedly duping seven persons of Rs 91 lakhs on the promise of awarding them works of different government departments, an official said on Tuesday.
The accused was identified as Satish Kadam, a resident of Nanded in Marathwada region, an official said.
A complaint was filed by Hanumant Vadje, who alleged that the accused cheated him and six others of around Rs 91 lakh by promising to give them various works of Urban Development and Social Justice Department, he said.
The fraud occurred between 2024 and 2026, with Kadam collecting money in cash and into his accounts, police said, adding he had returned some amount to them partially.
Multiple cheques issued by the accused bounced, prompting the victim to lodge a complaint at the Marine Drive police station. Based on the complaint, a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust was registered against him.
The case is under further investigation, the official said.
