New Delhi: Actor Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday dodged a question about actress Tanushree Dutta’s allegations of sexual harassment against Nana Patekar.
At the trailer launch event for Thugs of Hindostan, when asked to comment on the issue, Amitabh said, “Neither am I Tanushree, not am I Nana Patekar, so how can I comment on this?”
Amitabh’s Thugs of Hindostan co-star Aamir Khan had a less evasive response. “I think without knowing the veracity of something, or the details of something, I don’t think I can comment on it. It’s not right for me. I don’t need to comment on it. But I would like to say that, whenever something like this does happen, it’s a really sad thing. Now whether this has happened, that is for people to investigate. I don’t think we can comment on it,” Aamir said.
Also read: Nana Patekar Assaulted Tanushree Dutta: Eyewitness On The Set Breaks Silence
Ironically, Amitabh had written an open letter to his granddaughters Navya Naveli Nanda and Aaradhya Bachchan before the release of his 2016 film Pink, urging them to be strong and powerful women who can take on the world. Today, when he had the option to stand by his fellow “strong” colleague, he preferred to look away.
Tanushree has alleged that Nana Patekar behaved aggressively with her on the sets of 2008 film Horn ‘OK’ Pleassss. She also noted that the actor has a history of assaulting women and that is an unspoken truth in this industry.
Later, Tanushree opted out of Horn ‘OK’ Pleassss as a political party “who has a reputation of lynching and causing damages on the sets” threatened her and caused damages to her car at Nana Patekar’s behest.
Twitterati slammed Amitabh for his statement:
At #ThugsOfHindostan presser, when asked about Tanushree Dutta, Amitabh Bachchan said, “Neither am I Tanushree, not am I Nana Patekar, so how can I comment on this?” Wayyy to show solidarity for your colleagues, Bollywood. This country’s superstars make us so proud.
— Ankur Pathak (@aktalkies) September 27, 2018
What’s the use of ur movies ? pic.twitter.com/CuPg27A79R
— Darshan (@darshan4481) September 27, 2018
What happened to “no means no”, bro? https://t.co/rvVDkQXrOl
— S ❤️ (@boobradleyblog) September 27, 2018
These are the goddamn superstars we idealize in our country? Who shy away from supporting women who raise their voice for their rights? Wow, what a legacy they’re leaving behind. #TanushreeExposesBollywood https://t.co/uYbh9ACUsk
— Nikita Jain (@Nikitajain2091) September 27, 2018
When he had to promote Pink, @SrBachchan wrote a letter on consent. Today, he says he is neither Tanushree, nor Nana Patekar, so why should he comment ????????????????????????https://t.co/JCsHAdmz2Y
— Manisha Pande (@MnshaP) September 27, 2018
Has Amitabh Bachchan stood up for anything in his life? He is always on the right side of power. A great actor but possibly the most spineless, hypocrite in recent times! https://t.co/0qk1TYE5Gu
— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) September 27, 2018