The Ravishing Raveena Tandon On Why MeToo Must Be Sustained

It was  quite  a special  birthday  for the wonderful Raveena Tandon this year. As she turned a year older  on  Friday she felt a  sense  of satisfaction.

“Women who  have kept quiet  for  so long are speaking  out against their  harassment. It’s a full-blown movement now, and I feel  fulfilled as an  artiste  and a woman . Because for many years , speaking up meant a woman was stigmatized  by our film industry. She lost work opportunities. Many of them  gave up their  dreams and careers and went back to their home towns, while the men who drove them  to  despair  continued  to  lead successful  lives. I think that has  changed now,” says Raveena.

As   far  the  wrong  men being pulled  up  is concerned , Raveena feels it is a small price to pay for  generations of silence that women had to maintain.  “It is no longer cool to sweep harassment  cases under the carpet and move on. There  is  some criticism about anonymous women  naming and shaming their  predators. But  we must understand , it has taken us so long to come  out and speak. The courage  to  point a finger at the wrongdoer  must be lauded.”

Raveena has personally never faced sexual harassment  at her work place.  “Firstly I am a well-known  producer-director’s daughter(her father RaviTandon made blockbusters like Khel Khel Mein, Zindagi and Khuddar). Secondly, no one  could mess with me and get away with it.”

How did she  ensure she  was  safe  from sexual advances? “I always gave  out buddy vibes to my leading men. I won’t say that’s insurance against flirtatious  behaviour. But it helped.”

Her advice to  young girls vulnerable to  predatory  behaviour?  “Be  professional at your work place.  Do not discuss  anything beyond your work at  your work place.If at all there  is someone  who’s troubling you, then report him immediately. Do not give predators  the benefit  of  the doubt.”