Bollywood actresses talk about their safety issues while traveling alone, after the attack on Malayalam actress

By Subhash K. Jha -

February 22, 2017 - 10:11 AM IST

Kalki Koechlin: “I feel sad and angry when I find out about any woman being abducted or attacked. It happens a lot and it is not always reported. I personally have felt safe when I travel not because I have an entourage but because regular people recognise me and look out for me if I'm getting disturbed.”

Bollywood actresses talk about their safety issues while traveling alone, after the attack on Malayalam actress

Richa Chadda: “Just goes to show that the safety of women is an issue that transcends class. Statistics reveal the disturb truth that more often than not, perpetrators are known to the victim. The accused should be given the harshest punishment to set an example for a deterrent to these crimes in the future.”

Taapsee Pannu: “The thought of being unsafe hasn't even remotely crossed my mind when I am with my driver. And this incident jolted me a bit. Usually while travelling I'm pretty careful. I in fact make sure I have my google map on all the time to check which route I am taken through. But this kind of horrific incident could've happened to ANYONE. It was extremely shocking.”

Divya Dutta: “We are fortunate we get to travel in guarded surroundings either with the team or security. But I wonder how I’d feel if travelling alone. There are hazards for working women in terms of unwanted male attention, teasing, harassment. But it is best to take care of your own security. Don't travel alone and if you do, please carry things like pepper spray to practice defence."

Shruti Seth: “I am wary when travelling up north. Have been fortunate to not have encountered any danger so far but it definitely is a matter of concern.”

Dia Mirza: “I think this compels one to ensure at all times is that a police verification and background check is done with people we hire. Women especially must take the highest precautions to ensure their safety before hiring people to work for them.”

Pallavi Joshi: “I have never felt scared or nervous. While safety remains an issue which is not looked at seriously by any association, this incident is an isolated one and shocking of course. But this should not become the basis of the general safety of women and should not lead to us getting scared to travel alone. We have to climb new horizons and one-off incidents can't pull us back. Yes we have to always be alert, not as women but as human beings. Such are the modern times.”

Patralekha: “I live in Mumbai andn I have a trusted driver who takes me around. There are times that I travel by a train or take the rickshaw never has it happened that I felt unsafe but again this is Mumbai the safest city in India!”

Vishakha Singh: “Frankly speaking, Indian women are always in a proactive mode to be safe. We are taught from day one to safeguard ourselves. We are taught to distrust. No place is safe anymore. My heart goes out to the victim. If our own car isn't safe for us I don't know what is. However this incident is not going to scare me from travelling on my own.”

Suchitra Krishnamoorthy: “I feel safe when I'm traveling and travel the world on my own. But especially in a place like India I am very cautious and would not take undue risks. It is a country and culture disgustingly unsafe for women. The abduction of the Malayalam actress is politically or otherwise motivated though and quite a different issue.”

Shweta Tripathy: “I travel a lot by Uber. And feel quite safe actually. But such incidents make me feel very uneasy. No matter what the means of transport, our guards always have to be up.”