Daily Times

Just a day after the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) severed all ties with television and Bollywood actor Alok Nath and expelled him from the association, Vinta Nanda, who had accused him of rape and repeated sexual harassment, opened up about “landmark” decision. In an exclusive interaction with ZoomTV, television producer and writer Vinta Nanda shared that while this isn’t a victory, it’s indeed an important step. “It’s not a victory of sorts but it’s a very big step. In our film and television industry, which is more than a century old, a move like this has been taken for the first time.” She went on to add that a decision as such conveys a big message and credited the CINTAA team for taking this difficult decision. “The whole team has decided and taken a landmark decision, a decision which is very difficult to take. It sends a very strong message and conveys, to at least all of us who are a part of the industry, that we are accountable.” Alok Nath’s expulsion comes after he failed to attend a CINTAA meeting scheduled between him and Vinta Nanda. Vinta had accused Alok Nath of rape and repeated sexual harassment in the wake of MeToo movement. After she opened up about the assault story on social media, she took the legal route and filed a complaint against the actor. The MeToo movement gained momentum in India after Bollywood actor Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexually harassing her during the shoot of the 2007-released film ‘Horn OK Pleassss’.

Published in Daily Times, November 15^th 2018.