2018 saw a popular movement, #MeToo which brought out many women from the entertainment sphere as well. There were allegations pointed down against many celebrities like actors, producers, lyricists, singers and many more. The movement was actually started with the sole intention of seeing a world free of sexual violence.
Now, it looks like the wave has now entered the Bengali film industry too. Popular TV actress Rupanjana Mitra has reportedly made shocking allegations of sexual misconduct against renowned Bengali filmmaker, Arindam Sil.
Narrating the incident to a media portal, Rupanjana told, "He had called me in his office to read out the script of the first episode of Bhumikanya. It was a few days before Durga puja. Surprisingly there was nobody in his office when I reached there at 5 pm. I had an uncanny feeling. Suddenly he got up from his seat and started moving his hand over my head and back. It was only him and me in his office. I was feeling scared that I would probably get raped now and desperately praying for someone to enter the room. After a while I could not take it anymore and firmly asked him to speak to me about the script. He perhaps understood that I was not that kind of woman who would give in to his tricks. He suddenly entered the director mode and started explaining the script to me and within five minutes his wife entered the office."
She further shared that she broke down after coming out of his office. Explaining why she hadn't come forward with the allegation until now, she said that she was bound by contract with the channel in question.
Denying this, the filmmaker told the portal, "This is probably a political stunt. I don't know why she is saying all this. We are old friends. The day she is referring to, she texted me after leaving my office saying 'I am so excited'. I still have the text with me and can show it. Why would she text someone who has behaved inappropriately with her? She is lying."