Me Too shouldn’t be taken lightly: ‘Housefull 4’ diva Pooja Hegde

After three women accused and shamed popular Bollywood director Sajid Khan for gross sexual misconduct, he was then forced to step down from directing ‘Housefull 4’ (Hindi), starring Akshay Kumar, Kriti Sanon, and Pooja Hegde. Farhad Samhji replaced him as the director of the film. Actor and filmmaker Nana Patekar, who was accused of sexual abuse by Tanushree Dutta, had to give up his role in the film as well. Akshay Kumar had mentioned in an interview later that he would work with Sajid Khan in the future if the director was acquitted of the charges levelled against him.

Recently, Pooja Hegde, one of the leads in Housefull 4, opened up on her experience working the film after Sajid Khan’s exit and also about the MeToo allegations against him. “It was a difficult phase for the film, but the production house never let the heat get to us. Farhad had written the film and he knew the space very well. It was only natural for him to take over from Sajid Khan. We all knew what was going on, but the situation was handled smoothly.

It’s just great that the movement has begun. As an actress and as a woman, I feel that this movement should not be taken lightly. It has brought about a huge change in the industry and it was necessary. I understand that it’s not easy to speak out about what you’ve suffered, but more power to the women who have done so,” she mentioned in an interview to a news agency.