‘If anyone touches me now, I will strip them naked and make them stand in the middle of the road’: Ritabhari
Ritabhari Chakraborty
Kolkata’s popular actress Ritabhari Chakraborty has once again spoken out about the dark side of the city’s showbiz industry. In an interview about sexual harassment in the workplace and the ‘MeToo’ movement, she made explosive remarks. From speaking out on social media several years ago against two influential producers without directly naming them to submitting a petition to the chief minister, the actress has made her position clear on the issue.
Asked why she had remained silent for so long, Ritabhari said her position is much stronger now. In her words, “Today, I have reached such a position in my life that if anyone touches me now or tries to sexually assault me, I will strip them naked and make them stand in the middle of the road.”
She also spoke about the influence she has on social media. Ritabhari claimed that she has the highest number of followers on social media among actresses in eastern India. However, she said the beginning of her career was completely different. As a new actress at the time, she was afraid. She feared that people might misunderstand her if she made allegations. They might even think she was accusing producers because she was not getting work. Because of this fear, she said she had to silently endure many things for a long time.
However, Ritabhari did not destroy any evidence of the incidents from that period. She claimed that she has preserved the objectionable messages and other evidence. Although she does not want to turn social media into a “trial ground” or a place for slander, the actress wants to continue the fight through a legal and orderly process.
Ritabhari also spoke out extensively about the issue in September 2024. Inspired by Kerala’s widely discussed Hema Committee report, she called for a structural initiative in the Bengali film industry as well. She later held a direct meeting with the then chief minister at Nabanna.
Ritabhari said that during that meeting, the chief minister had assured her that a high level committee comprising a judge, police officials, lawyers and psychologists would be formed. The committee was supposed to prepare guidelines necessary to ensure safety and gender equality in Tollywood.
Ritabhari said she has also submitted a more formal petition on the issue to the current government. Her position is clear. She will not stop the fight until proper justice is delivered and necessary changes are made.
Ritabhari became a household name through the 2009 mega serial ‘Ogo Bodhu Sundori’. She is now one of the most recognizable faces in Bengali cinema. Alongside acting in films such as ‘Bohurupi’, ‘Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti’ and ‘Fatafati’, she has also established herself as a writer. Her performances in Anushka Sharma’s ‘Pari’ and Kalki Koechlin’s ‘Naked’ have also received praise.
Alongside her acting career, Ritabhari is now also known as a distinctive protest voice in the Bengali industry for speaking out against injustice.
Source: NDTV (Adapted)
