Anyone who follows Bollywood movies and music would have realised how we’ve only been hearing remixes and rehashed version of the most popular 90s’ songs. Guess this honour has been extended to movies as well now. Ajay Devgn gifted his fans the trailer of his new movie De De Pyaar De on his birthday (2nd April) and I’m not sure how I feel about the trailer. What’s new you ask? The actors. But the plot and story are pretty much the slapstick 90s or early 2000s formula that’s been rehashed. What’s more? The movie that stars Ajay, Tabu and Rakul Preet Singh in pivotal roles, also features Alok Nath.
For those unaware, the actor was allegedly accused of rape and sexual assault by Television writer-producer Vinta Nanda. Not just Vinta, but many other actresses had come out to support the producer to tell their stories wherein Nath had made them feel uncomfortable with his sexually inappropriate behaviour. Despite this, the court had granted the actor bail saying that Vinta might have done this to mar the actor’s reputation.
It boggles my mind that a big banner film such as this would want to hire an actor under such questionable allegations. And turns out, I’m not the only one who noticed. Right after the release of the trailer, Twitter slammed Ajay and the makers of the film for their casting.
Take a look:
While women continue to be disbelieved, ridiculed and shoved back into silence, men accused of sexual violence continue to find work. @ajaydevgn @itsBhushanKumar I hope you know Alok Nath has been accused of rape and an FIR filed. Disgusting that he’s part of De De Pyar De.
— #MeTooIndia (@IndiaMeToo) April 2, 2019
When it came to casting someone for that role, what made it absolutely necessary to pick a man accused of violence and harassment by multiple women? Is it a message that says you don’t care? What will it take for artists to stand up in support of women who call out predators?
— #MeTooIndia (@IndiaMeToo) April 2, 2019
So……..we’re just going to ignore this then? Cool.#DeDePyaarDeTrailer @IndiaMeToo pic.twitter.com/ycQiS4bHvF
— Sucharita Tyagi (@Su4ita) April 2, 2019
Super excited to see the next movie of rape accused Alok Nath come out and make tons of money for this safe, unexploitative industry that holds men accountable. https://t.co/4DM9uyJFT8
— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) April 2, 2019
Pls throw out Alokenath from #DeDePyaarDeTrailer its a request, he cant come back like this so easily 🙏 @itsBhushanKumar @ajaydevgn @Rakulpreet @TSeries @IndiaMeToo #MeToo
— BollywoodBoxoffice (@Boxofficeupdate) April 2, 2019
I’m gonna stop the trailer right there. #DeDePyaarDe is already cancelled for having ALOK NATH in it. Are we already whitewashing that bastard after all the allegations and his expulsion from CINTAA? Wtf is going on?@IndiaMeToohttps://t.co/Iu4iQejrBr
— Pramit Chatterjee 🌈 (@pramitheus) April 2, 2019
Super excited to see the next movie of rape accused Alok Nath come out and make tons of money for this safe, unexploitative industry that holds men accountable. https://t.co/4DM9uyJFT8
— Sandhya Ramesh (@sandygrains) April 2, 2019
Several bald and sanskari looking men NOT YET accused of rape who could have been cast in @ajaydevgn @itsBhushanKumar movie instead of Alok Nath.
But the pro-rape/ anti-women bias shows now.— Anoo Bhuyan (@AnooBhu) April 2, 2019
This is what happens when you forgive your fellow men as easily as they’ve forgiven Alok Nath, the rest of them creeps come crawling out the woodworks. Well done guys, I hope you are proud. https://t.co/eSyvZIuReQ
— Sucharita Tyagi (@Su4ita) April 2, 2019
At the trailer launch, the explanation given for the same was even more disappointing:
What stopped @itsBhushanKumar from dropping him once the allegations were raised? This is incredibly disappointing and triggering for survivors who’ll inevitably chance upon the trailer and the news. https://t.co/A1eb967wFH
— #MeTooIndia (@IndiaMeToo) April 2, 2019
Shame on @ajaydevgn for defending Alok Nath. They could have given him the boot post the allegations & FIR. I hate when celebs say “this is not the right platform to discuss”. Issues such as this deserved to be discussed on every platform. #DeDePyaarDeTrailer @IndiaMeToo https://t.co/fA5DGDOczq
— Shamini.M.R (@Not_A_Shammer) April 2, 2019
The fact that Bollywood is completely ignorant of what the actual issue with this is what is even scarier. When a forward-thinking, amazingly talented and all-around awesome actor like Rajkummar Rao also tweets the trailer, you can’t help but believe that B-town has soon forgotten the importance of the #MeToo movement.
Take a look:
Sir this is totally disgusting, where some women mostly who are not in group of nepotism or nepogang
Are raising their voice in @IndiaMeToo while you even don’t care, what message will pass to your fans, is this the use of being celeb?? Hope sir u understand. https://t.co/swzRZ7v33W— Gobinda #CSK #Kangana (@gobinda51493549) April 2, 2019
It makes me unbelievably sad that Bollywood has actually taken no action and carelessly assumed that netizens will be okay with this particular casting choice. Even if the actor was cast before the accusations were out, was there no time for recasting or at least some sort of disaster management? Why put him in the trailer? Unless it was intended to get attention through bad publicity. If this was the reason, it is definitely working because the trailer has garnered more than 14 million views in a day. Good job, Team De De Pyaar De. I hope you guys are proud.