Mumbai : Filmmaker Sajid Khan's participation in the new season of Bigg Boss has led to a lot of anger among people. Sajid was mired in #MeToo controversy in 2018 after nine women from the industry - who worked with Khan on his various projects - had accused the filmmaker of sexually harassing them. Actresses like Saloni Chopra, Sherlyn Chopra, Aahana Kumra and Mandana Karimi, among others, had levelled the allegations against him.
Colors TV's decision to bring Sajid to the Bigg Boss house is being criticised by many including singer Sona Mohapatra who claimed that she faced harassment at the hands of music composer Anu Malik. In an Instagram post, Sona requested filmmaker Farhan Akhtar to raise his voice against Sajid's participation in the reality show. https://twitter.com/sonamohapatra/status/1576807744371593216
"This is #SajidKhan , now on a reality TV show. Then there is #AnuMalik judging a music reality show on TV,for children no less. #KailashKher ? Celebrity Judge on TV. ALL called out by many many women in @IndiaMeToo. Indian TV channels, executives are indeed depraved & sad lot," she wrote.
In another tweet, she requested Farhan Akhtar, "Dear @FarOutAkhtar, you front an organisation called MARD. This man & the many others are known to you personally. Speak up, Stand Up only when it's convenient or pays to virtue signal for 'our cause' not now? Charity begins at home."
After facing the allegations, Sajid decided to take a 'moral responsibility of stepping down' from his directorial post of 'Houseful 4'. The directorial responsibilities were handed over to filmmaker Farhad Samji. He also said that he decided because 'pressure' was being put on his family.
Sona also tagged lyricist Javed Akhtar in her post. "Dear @Javedakhtarjadu , I know you to be a veteran, feminist & thought leader of the Indian film industry? That you choose to have remained silent all these years about these men you know very very well, personally, hurts me & breaks my heart. Charity begins at home," she added. 'Bigg Boss 16' started from October 1.