Everyone who decides to become part of the entertainment industry is informed about the sacrifices and compromises they’ll have to make. Most of the times, these said ‘compromises’ aren’t exactly ethical in nature, and in fact, attempt to violate a person’s mind and body.
But the world becomes a slightly better place when a woman who has experienced such a harassing situation decides to bring it to everybody’s attention.
If you don’t think that’s true, have a look at Shruti Marathe’s story who stood up against a producer who asked her to ‘compromise’ in exchange for a lead role in a film. (Originally posted on Humans of Bombay)
Shruti begins her story about how she was only 16 when she joined the industry, and the years that followed, she has seen the best and the worst side of it.
I’ve been in this industry since I was 16 years old. Over the years I’ve been celebrated in the limelight & shamed behind the camera. People have a misconception that actors lead a comfortable life & always feel good about themselves–that’s not true.
She even recalls a time when she was asked to wear a bikini on screen and she did it without thinking twice about it because there is literally nothing wrong in doing so.
Early on in my career, for a south film, I was asked to wear a bikini–I agreed without thinking twice. Questions like, ‘How are you going to shoot it?’ or ‘Is it required?’ didn’t even cross my mind. I was getting an opportunity to be in a film & that’s all that mattered!
But being the strong woman she is, she didn’t let the trolling and hate get to her. She continued to do the work she loves and didn’t let this incident define her talent as an actress.
I put myself out there without any barriers–but I wasn’t accepted; I was objectified. I still continued working as if it didn’t bother me. I had a dream. I’d worked so hard & was finally moving forward, I wasn’t going to let it go–just because someone else had a problem, they weren’t in my shoes & would never know what it felt like. Slowly, I made myself tougher.
Due to her growing popularity, she was offered a lead role in a Marathi film. But things didn’t go as planned when the producer asked her to ‘compromise’ for ‘one night’.
But she didn’t let him have his way with her. She didn’t let years and years of these so-called powerful men doing this to vulnerable women mess with her head.
I couldn’t let this slip so I asked him, ‘If you want me to sleep with you, who are you making the hero sleep with?’ He was stunned. I immediately informed others of his behaviour & they asked him to leave the project.
Her purpose was not just to save herself but from being exploited but to stand up for every woman who has been objectified or asked to make such compromises in the name of her career.
I stood up for every woman who’s been objectified & judged for simply being who she is; for simply being ambitious. Why should the archaic rules of society & today’s so-called modern world stop me? My clothes don’t define me–my talent does, my hard work does, my success does & I think it’s high time, people realise that.
You can read the entire post here.