A feud has erupted between actresses Kangana Ranaut and Sonam Kapoor on the sidelines of the #MeToo explosion currently playing out across the film industry, media and other fields. Kangana has lashed out at her colleague after Sonam reportedly reacted dismissively to the Queen star's added her own experience of alleged sexual harassment to the accusations against filmmaker Vikas Bahl. Sonam has posted a rebuttal on Instagram blaming "irresponsible media" who, she says, have "misquoted (her) or taken (her) quote out of context and made other women react." Presumably, she means Kangana, whom she doesn't name.
In a statement released today, Kangana Ranaut said, "What does she mean by saying, 'it's hard to believe Kangana'? When I am sharing my #MeToo story, who gives her a right to judge me?"
She was responding to Sonam Kapoor's comments about Vikas Bahl, who has been 'named and shamed' for allegedly assaulting a woman in 2015, details of which were revealed in a Huffington Post India expose on Saturday shortly after Vikas Bahl's business partner Anurag Kashyap announced that their company Phantom Films was being disbanded. Sonam reportedly said at a 'We The Women' event in Bengaluru that while the survivor's harrowing account 'disgusted' her, she couldn't react to Kangana Ranaut's experience with the same compassion. "(Kangana Ranaut) says a lot of stuff and sometimes is hard to take her seriously. I love the fact that she has spunk and she says what she believes. I really respect that," Sonam reportedly said.
Kangana, who says Vikas Bahl would 'bury his face in (her) neck, hold (her) really tight" when they met socially, is furious. She might have a point when she says this: "So Sonam Kapoor has the license of trusting some women and some she won't." In her tweet supporting Tanushree Dutta's allegation of sexual harassment against Nana Patekar, Sonam cited an eyewitness account by journalist Janice Sequeira and said she believed her account because the two women were friends - the unsaid implication being that Sonam believed not only Tanushree, the survivor of the alleged harassment, but the eyewitness because of the friendship they shared. "I believe #TanushreeDatta and @janiceseq85 recollection of the account. Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it's upto us to stand together," Sonam tweeted.
I believe #TanushreeDatta and @janiceseq85 recollection of the account. Janice is my friend, and she is anything but an exaggerator or a liar. And it's upto us to stand together. https://t.co/sF3mS5o1P8
- Sonam K Ahuja (@sonamakapoor) September 28, 2018
"What makes her so unsure of my claims, I am known to be an articulate person, I have represented my country in many international summits, I am called as a thought and youth influencer to these summits, I am not known because of my dad I have earned my place and credibility after struggling for a decade," Kangana Ranaut's statement read.
Kangana Ranaut, who is on agreeable terms with the Kapoors and had also attended Sonam and Anand Ahuja's reception in June, added: "She (Sonam Kapoor) isn't known to be a great actress, neither she has the reputation of being an good speaker. What gives these filmy people right to take digs at me? I will demolish each one of them."
Sonam Kapoor's Instagram response:
The film industry is having its #MeToo moment with a vengeance after Tanushree Dutta named Nana Patekar as her alleged harasser on a film set 10 years ago. Anurag Kashyap and Phantom co-founder Vikramditya Motwane have both tweeted to say they believe Vikas Bahl is guilty of misconduct - after Kangana Ranaut, another actress told Miss Malini on condition of anonymity that she had also been at the receiving end of unwelcome advances from him. Actor Rajat Kapoor is the latest to have been accused of inappropriate behaviour on Twitter.
