Shatrughan Sinha Speaks To Subhash K Jha On His Close Friend Subhash Ghai & Others In The MeToo Net

Your  dear friend Subhash Ghai stands  accused of  multiple sexual offences. Your comments?

What  happened to  innocent  until proven guilty? I  am all for  the MeToo movement ,never in my 40-year career have I misbehaved with any woman.I treat every lady with utmost respect. Having said that, I think this MeToo campaign is being blown out of all proportion.

 In what way?

While the  cause  was definitely noble  and praiseworthy it has now become  a free-for-all. Anyone  can name and shame  anyone. Reputations and  jobs are  being lost through a trial by media. To all the women who are  aggrieved  I say, please go to court and make sure the wrongdoers are punished.

You’ve done some terrific films with  him, Would you work  with Subhash Ghai in  future?

Why not? If he is proven  innocent, why not? Even if he  is proven guilty, and he serves the  punishment  given to him, I’d work with him.  Sanjay Dutt served his jail sentence and  is back working in our large-hearted  film industry.In fact we had no problem  working with him even when he was an accused in  a serious  case.

Many of the top stars and directors  have  vowed  not to work with sexual  offenders?

This  hypocrisy I  can’t understand. They have no problem  working with  Sanjay Dutt who has been convicted. But they want  to blacklist people whose guilt  is yet to be proven. Just to look like heroes  of  the MeToo movement.

A-list actors   have  dissociated  themselves from tainted  directors?

I don’t want  to name  anyone. But I will say this. Sau chuhe khaa kar billi  kaj ko chali. Those  seeking to  perch themselves  on a high moral-ground should  look into their conscience . The  problem  of  sexual exploitation doesn’t end with some names being  put out in the social media. This is  just the beginning. The  problem runs much deeper.

Your tainted party-colleague  M J Akbar  refuses to step down. What  is  your take on his brazen attitude?

I don’t even  know which political party I belong to any more! Having said that, M J Akbar is a friend. And  a wise one.I know him from the  time he revolutionized journalism in  this country. He  knows what he  is  doing, and why. I believe he has employed 97 lawyers to defend  him against charges(of sexual harassment). He  should’ve employed 3 more lawyers.  Century ban jata…Seriously,how can he afford such a massive  legal  fleet ? I can’t afford it if I ever  need it.