Actor
Radhika
Apte
says
sexual
abuse
is
not
limited
to
women
in
the
film
industry
as
she
knows
a
lot
of
men
who
been
subjected
to
misdemeanour.
Recently,
Hollywood
witnessed
the
Harvey
Weinstein
scandal,
which
has
put
the
spotlight
on
sexual
harassment
in
the
entertainment
industry.
Names
such
as
Kevin
Spacey,
James
Toback,
Brett
Ratner,
among
others
have
also
joined
the
infamous
list.
In
Bollywood,
Irrfan
Khan
was
the
first
actor
to
come
forward
and
share
his
story
of
how
he
was
asked
to
compromise
for
work
in
his
struggling
days.
Radhika
says
as
'more
and
more
women'
are
opening
up
about
their
experience,
it
is
important
to
have
a
platform
where
complaints
can
be
addressed.
"Not
just
women,
men
also
go
through
sexual
abuse.
I
am
specifically
talking
about
the
industry,
I
know
a
lot
of
men
who
have
gone
through
this
as
well.
It's
high
time
this
comes
out,"
Radhika
tells
PTI
in
an
interview.
"Also,
as
the
industry
becomes
more
open
and
people
from
different
parts
come
here
-
not
just
for
people
from
their
own
production
house
or
family
-
it's
more
important
that
we
have
a
platform," she
says.
The
Phobia
actor
says
it
is
both
sensitive
and
a
grey
topic
and
more
transparency
is
needed
to
curb
sexual
misconduct.
"People
who
exploit
their
power
and
abuse
others
need
to
be
revealed.
On
the
other
hand,
people
are
ambitious
and
are
ready
to
do
what
is
required.
It
needs
to
work
from
both
the
sides," says
Radhika.
"You
need
to
learn
to
say
no
and
need
to
recognise
when
you're
being
exploited.
You
will
get
your
due,
according
to
your
talent.
at
some
time.
Some
people
come
here
running
away
from
home,
they
have
nothing
to
fall
back
on.
A
better
organisation,
rules
and
transparency
will
help
a
lot," she
says.
Several
Hollywood
celebrities,
including
names
such
as
Olivia
Munn,
Natasha
Henstridge,
Gwyneth
Paltrow
and
Angelina
Jolie,
recently
called
out
the
alleged
offenders.
Asked
if
there
is
a
fear
among
people
within
the
industry
to
name
the
perpetrators,
Radhika
agrees,
saying,
"The
fear
is
there
because
we
still
have
this
culture
where
Bollywood
is
considered
to
be
this
inaccessible
magical
place.
But
it's
not,
it's
a
workplace.
Work
ethics
need
to
be
introduced
at
every
level.
That's
happening.
But
people
have
to
come
out
and
start
taking
names.
She
adds,
"The
fear
also
comes
from
'Who
is
going
to
believe
me?
The
other
person
has
so
much
power,
my
complain
will
go
unnoticed,
that'll
ruin
my
career'.
That's
the
perception.
I
think
more
need
to
people
speak
up."
The
actress
will
soon
be
seen
on
MTV's
digital
show
"Fame-istan"
as
a
mentor
to
young
filmmakers.
To
be
aired
on
November
24,
the
show
aims
to
give
a
platform
to
four
aspiring
filmmakers
to
make
a
short
film
and
being
mentored
by
the
industry
veterans.