Kalki Koechlin is a woman with a mind of her own. When she agreed to do a satirical video entitled `It`s Your Fault` on the rape crime,she never thought it would have such a huge impact.

Says Kalki, `It all began with Tanmay Bhatt getting in touch with me. He didn`t say what it was about. He just said he wanted to do a comic skit with me.I refused, as I was really busy at that time . But he insisted.So I told him to send the script. When I read it I was blown by the whole treatment of the rape issue.`

Kalki feels she is the right woman convey the grim issue in a satirical tone. `I have a deadpan sense of humour.We all so frustrated by the rampancy of rape. We all want to do something about it.This is my way of letting the world know what I feel about it.`

There has been a large number of protests against the film`s humorous treatment of the rape theme.

Admits the doughty actress. `We were very nervous about people`s reaction. We wondered if they`d get the sarcastic tone. Would people accept us joking about such a sensitive topic?`

But the feedback they got for the video before its release was heartening. `Friends reacted so well. But we never expected the video to go viral in such a way. People really got the point.That`s fantastic.In fact we`ve been told to translate the English-language video into other Indian languages to make it accessible to a larger audience. Tanmay is working on a Hindi version of the video.`

Kalki defends the concept stoutly, `We didn`t want to force-feed the message. At the same time we wanted the point to get across without accusing anyone.As for those who didn`t like it I guess there will always be people who criticize what you do. If you are in the limelight you might as well be used to it.`


Speaking on the issue of rape Kalki says, `There is no magic wand which we can wave and do away with the problem. We all can do our bit.People asked me if our viral video will make a difference. I am happy if it makes some difference. Everyone should their bit, like Farhan Akhtar`s MARD campaign.`

Kalki feels gender sensitization is an issue we need to address seriously. `Male and female children need to be treated equally in all homes. Girls are over-protected , not allowed to do many things. Boys grow up thinking they can do what they like. And that is extended to violence against women.`

Kalki feels it is wrong to blame cinema for the increase in crime against women. `To blame Bollywood or the way a woman dresses for the rapes is ridiculous. Women in Sarees and Salawar-Kameez are getting raped. 5-year old children are raped. In such cases rape has nothing to do with women dressing provocatively.I don`t think rape would stop if actresses stopped wearing bikinis and doing item numbers.`

Kalki feels actors and other artistes have a social responsibility. `Our cinema should take the subject of sex seriously and women should have more powerful roles in cinema And innovative ideas like our video surely helps.There is a growing audience for films that address women`s issue.The fact that our video It`s Your Fault has reached out to so many people proves there`s a socially aware audience out there. A friend`s boyfriend told her not to wear a skimpy teeshirt to go out. Then he saw our video and he stopped telling her what to wear and what not.`

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Kalki feels there is not enough theatres to show serious issue-based cinema. `We have a great deal of variety in films but not enough space for it.I just hope we find the balance.`

I asked Kalki if she would be willing to work in a sex comedy like Grand Masti.

The actress laughed, `I don`t think so. I need to relate to a film and to my character.I haven`t seen Grand Masti . I can`t comment on it.But as a thinking woman I won`t do something I won`t relate to.I do a film if I like my character. I didn`t have the main role in Ayan Mukerjee`s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. But I liked the script.Right now I am doing a girl-bonding film Jiah Aur Jiah.We have so many male-bonding films. So this is a change.`