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EXCLUSIVE Isha Koppikar on #MeToo: If women give in for the indecent proposals, then you can't blame the man
Isha Koppikar opens up on Me Too Movement, blames the girl if she gives in to an indecent proposal. Read her exclusive statement,
The #MeToo movement gained momentum in India last year and many names from the film industry were exposed. Initially, the #MeToo movement, which started in Hollywood, had failed to take root in India; however, it took the industry by storm when actress Tanushree Dutta revisited a 10-year-old incident. The actress accused Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her on the sets of Horn Ok Pleassss at Filmistan Studios in Goregaon, in March 2008. During this time, many actors chose to stay silent, several stars have stood up in support of this. Also, the moment had started a serious conversation and debate with many women who came out and called out their predators for alleged sexual harassment.
Well, the Kyaa Kool Hai Hum actress Isha Koppikar who is making a comeback with a Tamil film has a strong take on the #MeToo movement. The actress is now back in the limelight and will be making a comeback in Tamil cinema with Sivakarthikeyan's next.
During an exclusive conversation with Pinkvilla, we asked Isha about her take on the #MeToo movement. To which she says, "First of all, I think the dignity and integrity of a woman lie in her. If you don't respect it, nobody else would respect it. I believe that totally. Also, I believe that if a woman for any reason gives in for the proposals which are indecent, then you cannot blame the man. It is completely the woman at fault. At that point whatever it is, she has the right to refuse it. Probably, I don't know they are under what pressure. If it has to do with their livelihood, survival, better job, of a job, of a promotion, you never know what the pressure is about, but she left the pressure to overpower her which is not right, according to me. After doing that, you cannot after four, five or 10 years blame the man, but if a woman is forced, raped, molested and drugged, then the perpetrator needs to be hanged, not brought in life but he needs to be hanged. He should get severe punishment because you cannot do such heinous act without permission. When a woman has said yes and accepted the proposal, its consensual. So, why are you coming out after 10 years and blaming the guy. You were ready to do it. Whether you got your job done or not done or he failed to give you what he had promised, then all that is second. Firstly, you comprised on your principals or values that were inculcated by you and your parents." 
However, when we pointed out that it is yet not clear if the victims who have called out names were forced or had to compromise, Isha Koppikar who has recently joined politics said, " I don't know about the stories, about the truth in the story or how appropriate they are. My stand remains the same. My stand is if you are equally involved in the proposal, then you cannot turn around and blame the person. This is my stand. I don't know about how true or false the stories are. I don't know if it was really the man's fault or the girl was victimized. I don't know if she was forced. I don't know the truth that necessary authorities have to find out.
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She further added, "My stand is if you have said yes, then you can not turn around and say #MeToo because I'm a woman and I have also been offered roles in this industry. But for me, my moral mattered. For me, getting a big film was not that important because my conscious most important. I need to look at myself and feel proud that I let a bloody job or a movie go because my self-respect is important".
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