I wasn't sexually harassed in Delhi

I wasn't sexually harassed in Delhi
Thursday, February 25, 2010 10:53 IST
By Santa Banta News Network
Oscar winning New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion has blasted reports that she was sexually harassed in India during her stay here last year.

"I was not sexually harassed by the festival director's husband and did not make that allegation, " she said in a statement Wednesday.

"However at least two other delegates I spoke to and a third I heard about, did have bad experiences with the festival director's husband and I hear they went on to make allegations of sexual harassment, " she added.

A leading daily reported Tuesday that Campion, who won an Oscar in 1993 for her screenplay for "The Piano" and Pakistani filmmaker Ayesha Arif Khan complained to the Ministry of Urban Development here of sexual harassment during their stay in the capital, reports nzherald.co.nz.

Reports suggested that they accused Bhaskar Deb, husband of Festival Director Shyamali Banerjee, of making lewd advances and harassing them during their stay here during the 5th India International Women's film Festival here Dec 15-22 last year.

"At parties, Bhaskar would get really drunk and obnoxious and that is not the objective of any director's visit to India, " Khan had said to a news channel.

"I am trying to raise it as a feminist representation issue and it's very sad that we are female filmmakers and we have been treated like this by the organisers of the film festival, " she added.

The two female filmmakers also claimed that they were forced to leave in haste after they discovered that the fest was fraudulent.

Bhaskar Deb claimed that the allegations against him are baseless.

"I'm not well versed in English or Hindi. How can I speak to a foreign filmmaker? I haven't seen Jane Campion at the festival. She was in the country but didn't attend the event, " he told a news channel here.

"Ayesha was here for three-four days after she made the allegations. She even mingled with my family. Why is she making such statements now?" he asked.

Banerjee also spoke in her husband's defence.

"It's all a conspiracy. Since their aspirations are high which could not be fulfilled so they are trying to damage our festival in this way, " she said.
Rajkummar Rao's Award Streak: 9 Wins in Under Six Months for a Standout Year in Film!

In less than six months, Rajkummar Rao has cemented his position as one of the most celebrated actors of

Tuesday, April 01, 2025
Tanya Maniktala reveals her most 'emotionally intense' scene from Amazon MX Player's Loot Kaand!

Amazon MX Player, Amazon’s free streaming service, takes audiences on a rollercoaster ride with its latest

Tuesday, April 01, 2025
JioHotstar and Padma Vibhushan Shri - Amitabh Bachchan Unite to Bring the Sacred Splendor of Ram Navami to Millions through a special livestream!

JioHotstar continues to revolutionize India’s live streaming experience by making it more inclusive and

Tuesday, April 01, 2025
Asim Riaz, Rajat Dalal, Rubina Dilaik and Abhishek Malhan gear up for the ultimate fitness showdown in Amazon MX Player's Battleground!

The battlefield is ready, and the warriors have arrived! After the surprise reveal of Shikhar Dhawan as

Tuesday, April 01, 2025
Sorab Bedi's Fitness Mantra 'I Want a Body Like Hrithik Roshan Sir'!

Television heartthrob Sorab Bedi, who first captivated audiences with his remarkable debut in Chand Jalne

Tuesday, April 01, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT