Golden Globes

Ileana D'Cruz on why Bollywood leading ladies haven't spoken up about harassment

Mar 132018

Ileana D’Cruz on why unlike Hollywood’s fierce lot, Bollywood’s leading ladies have shied away from MeToo revolution

Ileana D'Cruz
Ileana D’Cruz

From accusing heavyweights like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct to sparking off the MeToo movement — female actors in Hollywood have brought about a revolution in the past few months, as they broke their silence on sexual harassment. In sharp contrast, Bollywood has been a mute witness to it all — happy to diplomatically applaud their international counterparts for naming and shaming their sexual predators, but not quite ready to address the elephant in the room.

“Losing on films is only one of the fears,” says Ileana D’Cruz, as she tries to analyse why B-Town leading ladies haven’t spoken up about sexual harassment that is prevalent in the industry.

Hollywood actors turned up in black at Golden Globes 2018 as a mark of protest against sexual harassment

She opines that in a country where the audiences tend to idolise their on-screen heroes, it is not easy to raise your voice against them. “You have to understand that our country, to some extent, tends to worship a lot of actors. Firstly, the families get affected if you speak up. Secondly, the fans have built such an image of these actors that they can’t see them in a negative light.”

According to D’Cruz, what deters the female actors from taking the brave step of naming the perpetrators, is the fear of it backfiring. “Think about any of the male superstars in this country. If a girl accuses him, most fans will say, ‘I don’t believe her claims. There is something wrong with the girl’. It is easy to point fingers at a nobody than at somebody famous. There have been so many similar cases here. But no one will step out and talk about it because actresses fear that no one will support them.”

Having earlier admitted to being a victim of sexual harassment and eve-teasing, the actor reveals she has had to face disturbing episodes in her 12-year-long career in the movies too.

“I have been associated with people who have tried to harass me. They have tried to push themselves on me just because they are powerful. Situations like this are not easy to be in. You may think you can retaliate, but sometimes it is difficult to do that.”

Also read: When Anurag Basu played a prank of Ileana D’Cruz

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Golden Globes 2018: Gary Oldman wins Best Actor in Motion Picture – Drama

Celebrities

Jan 072018

Gary Oldman today won his maiden Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Golden Globe for playing the role of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour

Gary Oldman. Pic/AFP

Gary Oldman today won his maiden Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Golden Globe for playing the role of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. In his acceptance speech, the 59-year-old actor said he is proud to be a part of the Joe Wright-directed war epic and the film has reinforced his faith that words and actions in tandem have the power to make a difference in the world.

“I’m very proud of the ‘Darkest Hour’. It illustrates that words and actions can change the world and boy oh boy, does it need some changing,” Oldman said. The veteran actor thanked his co-stars – Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, Stephen Dillane, Ronald Pickup and Ben Mendelsohn. He said to Scott, “Your work is exquisite. Thank you for putting up with those awful cigars.”

Oldman also paid his gratitude to his make-up team. Oldman added, “Your artistry has no equal. You are kind, funny and patient. We got through 63 applications.” The actor also thanked his wife, Gisele Schmidt, for putting up with his “crazy”. “She used to say to friends, ‘I go to bed with Winston Churchill and wake up with Gary Oldman.’, which I suppose is better than the other way around,” he quipped.

Towards the end, Oldman thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) and Churchill. The actor has been critical of the Globes in the past. In 2009, he talked about a tussle with the HFPA at a press conference, in which he called them a TRP vehicle. He believed he was disqualified from the contest following his remarks. He even called the celebrities to boycott the awards in 2014.

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Golden Globes 2018: Lady Bird wins two awards in Musical or Comedy category

Celebrities

Jan 072018

Lady Bird has won Best Motion Picture and Best Actress for Saoirse Ronan in the Musical or Comedy category at the 2018 Golden Globes

Timothee Chalamet, Laurie Metcalf, Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan poses with the award for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy in ‘Lady Bird’ during the 75th Golden Globe Awards. Pic/AFP

Lady Bird has won Best Motion Picture and Best Actress for Saoirse Ronan in the Musical or Comedy category at the 2018 Golden Globes. Written and directed by Greta Gerwig, the film was up against James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist”, Jordan Peele’s “Get Out”, “The Greatest Showman”, and “I, Tonya”.

Though Gerwig did not produce the film, the producer handed over the mic to her to give the acceptance speech where she praised her cast, including Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. Many in the industry believe that Gerwig missed a well-deserved nomination in the director category at the Globes, which was won by Guillermo del Toro for “The Shape of Water”.

Excited about her win for her performance in the coming-of-age tale, Ronan said, “My mum’s on FaceTime over on someone’s phone! I just want to say how inspirational it’s been to be in this room right now. I want to thank all of the women who I love so much, my mother who is on FaceTime, my best friend. Actually, everyone in this room!” Ronan said in her acceptance speech. The two awards have strengthened the film’s chances at the Oscars in March this year.

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