Difficult Women

Why the #Metoo movement hasnt reached Bollywood yet

- Rajeev Masand

If the Bollywood grapevine can be trusted (remember, there’s seldom smoke without a fire), an up-and-coming male star who has a problem keeping it in his pants may have landed himself, and a studio, in a serious pickle on account of his less-than-stellar behaviour on an outdoor film shoot recently.

Historically, location shoots have been a breeding ground for casual affairs and hook-ups. Long-time industry watchers say practically all of Bollywood’s legendary dalliances – the ones still discussed in hushed whispers – can be traced back to an especially long shooting spell away from home and the watchful eyes of protective parents, spouses and pesky reporters. A veteran producer, putting things into perspective, points out that “it was a very different time, and because everyone did it, there was a kind of ‘normalcy’ to it.” He adds: “When a pair of actors left for a long outdoor schedule, you just knew it was going to happen. It wasn’t out of the ordinary. It’s just what happened those days.”