Irrfan on Weinstein scandal: It is everywhere, in every dept
The Harvey Weinstein scandal has blown out with many Hollywood celebrities raising their voice against sexual harassment and assault. Among the dozens of victims - including Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd, who have claimed Weinstein sexually harassed them, several women have also said that Weinstein raped them.
Today while promoting his upcoming film, ‘Qarib Qarib Single’, Irrfan Khan was asked about his opinion on the Harvey Weinstein scandal as he has done a good number of international projects and whether such practises happen in India too.
Irrfan opened up and stated that he has experience it too. “It is everywhere, in every department,” he said. “You experience this. You also get such invites, till the time this is an invite, it is okay, and that you have a right to say no. So if someone proposes, you know you can decline.
‘If you sleep with me, I will give you work’, this kind of indications have always come, to men and women, women might have experience it more often. However if someone is being forced into it, and that someone is doing it without consent then how much ever you criticise it, it is less,” Irrfan said.
The Life of Pi star also spoke about how sexual exploiters should be called out and exposed. He said, “If I am doing a certain thing by choice, knowing that I will get something out of it, then it is a choice you’ve made. If there is on one who has been doing this repeatedly then it is important to expose such people, and to call them out.”
When a scribe added that at times people do not have the power to say no in such situations, and what does he have to say then, he answered, “I agree that they might not have the power, but they can say no. Exploiting someone sexually is a disease in itself, it talks about the trends in a society. Our society is sexually suppressed. And when it comes to sexual exploitation, one gender which is more powerful will exploit the other gender. Expiration is not the key factor, it is the suppression. People should be allowed to mingle with each other. How are these bodies and the government to pass judgement on that? You have the right to meet people you want to meet in life.”
Harvey Weinstein scandal rooted from Hollywood, but does our industry also suffer from sexual predators? Irrfan Khan said that it happens everywhere and in every department.
“It is everywhere, in every department. I have also gone through this, it is not good to name people. Some people give cover indications and some clearly tell you that if you compromise in a certain way you will get a particular job. It has happened with me, many times from male and female directors. Now of course it doesn’t happen. But it becomes a very awkward situation, that you know someone people well and you respect them, and then they end up giving you such offers. You don’t feel bad that they made this kind of an offer, but you know that the original relationship you had with them will change. And that’s a sad feeling. But the power remains in my hand to accept or reject such offers. If I end up accepting an such offers, it should be my choice and not forced upon me,” he told media professions here.
Source: The Indian Express
