Following gangrape of Mumbai photo-journalist, the women of Bollywood talk about
why it's crucial to change the mentality of Indian men towards women.
‘Stringent laws and change in attitude required to protect women’ say Bollywood divasShabana Azmi: "This ghastly incident is a wakeup call for all Mumbaikars who revel in
calling our city the safest in India. The new rape law has not instilled any fear because of
lack of faith in law and order. We need to tackle rape at many levels. There's a deep rooted
misogyny and sexual assault is used as an instrument of control and power so that women are
denied freedom."
Juhi Chawla: "Up till now I was always proud of Mumbai. It was always vibrant and yet
safe. Buzzing with activity at all hours, alive and throbbing with excitement. This news comes
as a shocker. I hope the victim will be healed and fine. I felt worse for the fact that she is a
photographer, so she may be connected to our film industry. I can't imagine how painful and
traumatic this must be for her and her family. Very tragic. I hope those beasts who did this are
severely SEVERELY punished. So severe that the next potential rapist would stop short in his
tracks."
Lilette Dubey: "Shocking shocking shocking. We always prided ourselves in Mumbai for
being safe for women. But it looks like even after the Delhi incident, we've learnt no lessons.
Such is the nature of the beast that it won't change. The anti-rape laws are not detrimental
enough. I am almost tempted to believe castration is the only solution."
Pooja Bedi: "Mumbai is definitely not going to be a safe city for women if we don't sent
out a loud, stern warning to potential rapists. We need swift sentencing through fast-track
courts. The harshest and severest punishment must be meted out to these rapists. Even after 8
months in Nirbhaya's case, there has been not one sentencing even though it was so brutal and
horrific. Rapists are obviously going to get emboldened."
Reema Kagti: "I don't feel Mumbai or any other place in India is safe for working
women."
Richa Chadha: "Mumbai is one of the safest cities in the country. In the light of this
event, I feel doubtful of that though. Last week a foreigner was attacked violently on a local
train... However, we can't focus this debate on city-specific assaults. The issue is not where
it happens, but that it happens at all...The problem is with the Indian chauvinist male, who
believes any woman stepping out of the house is meant for him to use and abuse, be it a student,
or a working woman. Let's not lock up our girls, let's teach the boys some manners. And let's
have strong laws in place that act as a deterrent for these beasts."
Sophie Choudry: "When I moved from Mumbai to London I felt proud to say I'm living in
the safest city in the world. Today the joke is on me. I am shamed at what is happening in
Mumbai. For an atrocity of this magnitude to take place in broad daylight is shocking. Rape
occurs in every part of the world. But it seems most gruesome in India. What fuels these attacks
is the lack of fear for the law. Mumbai is not what it used to be even 5 years ago!"
Gauhar Khan: "It's getting riskier by the day to stay in Mumbai. The city had a
reputation for being safe for women. But with a shameful incident such as this, women would
think twice before moving around freely. I hope Mumbai becomes safe for us again."
Dia Mirza: "The question we should all be asking ourselves is not about
Mumbai alone. But is India safe for women? Our men need emancipation. Our laws and the
conviction for crimes against women need to become much more stringent and timely. Men who
perpetrate crimes against women should be punished swiftly and severely."
Raima Sen: "So far I thought Mumbai was safe for women. But now after this incident I am
not so sure."
Raveena Tandon: "Mumbai is not safe for women. So far I felt it was because of the
growing number of slums in the city. But crime against women is on the rise for no given reason.
I don't think it's safe for a lone woman to travel in Mumbai on public transport after dark."
Tapsee Pannu: "How is anyone sure that this was the one rape that happened. There might
be so many others which are not reported. And we thought it was just Delhi! I feel the day this
country's men are educated to respect women and stop treating them as mere objects, the rape
incidents may come down."
Urmila Matondkar: "It is very disheartening and extremely upsetting. But why should we
restrict our concern to Delhi or Mumbai? Anywhere in the country measures should be taken to
secure the safety of women."
Gauri Shinde: "I don't know what to say or feel any more. I am shell-shocked. This is
not the Mumbai I knew. What has happened to the city?"
Amyra Dastur: "I am absolutely horrified. I enjoy going out in the night. I never
expected Mumbai of all the cities to be home to such a horrific incident. Now I am scared of
going out in my own city where I've lived all my life. All my love and prayers for the victim
and her family."
Celina Jaitley: "I cannot believe something like this can happen in my beloved city. No
matter where I went in the world, I used to so proudly speak of Mumbai being one of the safest
cities in the world for women. Now comes this horrific incident. I am appalled and disgusted.
The biggest culprit is the legal system. It does not instill fear in the perpetrator. Punishment
for rape does not even qualify as punishment and the time taken to "punish" the rapist is
laughable. Now when I look back I shudder to think back to all the times when I dropped my young
hairdresser at the nearest cab at 4 am after pack up."
Neha Dhupia: "We used to always be proud of being safe in our city. But now it's all
changed with the demographics changing and people coming in from all over. There is just no
restrain to the rise in crime against women except harsh punishment. Clearly, it is disgraceful
and disturbing. But this incident should wake up the spirit of Mumbai. And we should in some
influential way punish each one of the criminals.An incident like this makes me sad and angry no
matter where it happens."
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