This is about every celebrity who thinks his colleague enjoys being grabbed by the waist-Malika Dua

Malika Dua mentions in an open letter how Akshay Kumar's statement wasn't just another vile act!

Sanchita Jhunjhunwala Thumbnail

Sanchita Jhunjhunwala

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Comedienne Mallika Dua, who has hit out at Bollywood star Akshay Kumar for a remark aimed at her during a shoot, says she wanted to start a dialogue about etiquette at the workplace, where big shots often cannot differentiate between charm and harm.

Mallika took to Twitter on Thursday to post snapshots of an open letter, in which she has addressed the issue.

It reads: "Is Kareena Kapoor not entitled to speak about things because she played Chameli? Is Vidya Balan not entitled to speak about things because she did 'The Dirty Picture'? The people who shame us for the characters we play are the same people who make it okay for a Bhupendra Chaubey to speak to Sunny Leone the way he did. Shame on you. Fortunately, you can't stop us."

A video has surfaced on the internet in which Akshay is seen saying "Aap bell bajao, main aap ko bajata hun (You ring the bell, I will bang you)" to Mallika during the shooting of comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge.

While many came to Mallika's support, many questioned the timing as Mallika is no longer a part of the show, which is aired on Star Plus.

Mallika says this isn't about Akshay Kumar.

"This is about every big Bollywood star and every other big shot, who cannot tell the difference between charm and harm. This is about every big celebrity who thinks his colleague enjoys being grabbed by the waist and twirled without her consent.

"This is about workplace etiquette for everybody, men and women included, and about understanding the idea of professional communication so we don't make someone uncomfortable in their place of work, unintentionally or otherwise."

She said women are not the emotional fools most take us to be.

"I refuse to act on impulse and jeopardise my career for a race of crass alpha males with licences to make us cringe. It amounts to committing suicide just because every second person in the world is an asshole or not crossing the road because accidents happen.

"So yes, we are 100 per cent complicit in letting it pass, sometimes for our own sake," said the daughter of journalist Vinod Dua.

Mallika says the remark was not the single most vile act of inappropriate behaviour.

"Was it the single most vile act of inappropriate behaviour? No. Was it enough to make one uncomfortable? Yes. Would the superstar be offended had someone jokingly said to his daughter, 'Nitaara ji, aap bell bajaaiye main aapko bajaata hoon'? - Most probably."

Mallika, who made her place in the comedy world through the digital world, didn't put one part of the open letter on Twitter.

It was published by a popular webstite.

It read: "What stayed with me was why and how is that statement a joke, and why was it necessary to crack that one with a colleague? I also wondered why the same joke wasn't directed at my co-mentors Zakir Khan and Hussain Dalal. I shrugged and went back to work, like women generally do."

The issue comes at a time when there is a clamour around sexual harassment in showbiz after Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was named by multiple actresses and models for rape and assault.

What do you have to say about this entire fiasco? Drop your comments below.

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Akshay Kumar Thumbnail

Akshay Kumar

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Kareena Kapoor

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Vidya Balan

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Sunny Leone

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Hussain Dalal

Comments (12)

Okay, I really do not understand what this woman's issue is... First the comment was made, then after her getting fired her father raised objections about the comment, then she says yes it was objectionable and now in this letter she is connecting it to some other issue (being picked up and all that). Like to me this really looks like she is trying to create controversy. And honestly as a woman there is part of me that feels bad for saying that. But the fact of the matter is that this show is targeted to an adult audience so jokes about s** are made. Not only that, but Malika herself has made these jokes openly and confidently in the past. So obviously in a comedic standpoint, if Akshay Kumar did not know so well what her boundaries (in terms of the types of jokes she is okay with) are, he will go off her past work and the things she's said. In fact, this was a lot tamer than some of her comments and her language. Even with the lifting her up or whatever, it was done as a gag and not with some bad intentions, at least that is what I feel. In fact, if Malika is sensitive about such actions and jokes when she is the butt of the joke, she should have cleared that with the channel earlier on, because obviously majority of this stuff is at least preplanned, or even scripted. While of course any woman's safety and comfort is paramount, if the woman is a comedian or performer of any kind who is known to be open with such things and make such jokes, it becomes her responsibility to clarify that she is okay when she makes the joke, but not the others. Never mind that I personally feel that is in bad taste for a comedian, like if hearing the joke about yourself makes you uncomfortable don't make those jokes either.

6 years ago

it is unfortunate how v, as a society, r selectively forward thinkers. while i hvn't seen either the controversial clip or mallika's online videos, the time laps or her being kicked out of d show does not cease her right to protest or complaint. as to the language in her show, the format is not liable for any censorship and expected viewers r adults and they choose to catch it. even then if the large number of viewers find it objectionable they can complain to appropriate authority who would take necessary action. but in the later case, the show is GEC format and the viewers r from all age groups. the chances of elderly feeling embarrassed and children picking up the language is high. not every spat between two celebrities be judged as publicity stunt (esp. when one of them is less popular). one should not forget that every individual puts in lots of efforts and makes lots of sacrifices to reach where they r now. so they deserve the dignity they demand.

6 years ago

Just a damn publicity stint. AK is too respectable and sober to mean 'otherwise'. And I feel this was scripted, wasn't it? Why will anyone pass a remark about the co actor unless it's not scripted?

6 years ago

If we see the video of the incident then Mallika was ringing the bell and the other 3 guys were holding her other hand. Thats when Aksgay said 'aap bell bajao main aapki bajata hoon'.

This was not even remotely offensive. Unless there is something more than the video.

6 years ago

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6 years ago

It's so sad that people are reacting this way. If she was kicked out of the show and she is saying this or not shouldn't matter. She may not have gotten what Akshay Kumar said at that time, in till her father pointed it out how wrong it sounds. Have you not ever realised how wrong something sounds tills someone pointed out to you?
What he said was wrong doesn't mean if it's said in a movie it's okay, it doesn't justify it. I am not Malika's side or Akshay's I m on right and wrong side. Would you be okay with someone saying that to you on your work place and after you got fired you wouldn't have a opinion on it?

And what has her language to do with this? Men use worst words than her and that's okay but when a woman does its bad? No Wonder Womencan't move forward when women themselves push each other down. This is so sad and disgusting

6 years ago

What Aisha's Kumar kumar said does not have only one meaning as being portrayed by her . It's taporis language word and also used in various meaning . We have seen in movies even the male actor will say to another Teri bajata hoon . She took it as controversy because she was kicked out of show by the producers . There is nothing about respect on how she started the controversy

6 years ago

What is the woman talking about.This is so lame.l mean its good that our society is becoming more and more conscious about women safety, but that doesn't mean women should take advantage of that and harass men like that on such pity things.
First have the guts to laugh on yourself then make fun of others.

6 years ago

Butthurt idiot trying hard to gain publicity simply because she got kicked out of the show. So what if Akshay made that remark? Imagine if a woman had made that remark about a man, then all the feminists would laugh and make fun of the man.

And looking at her AIB videos, I'm glad someone made a remark like that about her. Doesn't matter if it's Akshay or anyone else. I'm glad someone put her in her place.

6 years ago

If this woman really had some class, she would have objected immediately when the statement was made. Now she shamelessly says that sometimes we are complicit for our careers! Lady either you have dignity or you don't. You don't pick and choose basis convenience. I have seen her online videos. Even a s** worker will not use the language she uses. It is enough to make one's ears bleed. If she wants respect than she should try to be respectable

6 years ago

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