Saif Ali Khan joins the #MeToo debate; Says I was harassed 25 years ago

The #MeToo movement has opened a can of worms after Tanushree Dutta accused the national-award-winning actor, Nana Patekar of sexual harassment during the shooting of a song sequence for the 2008 flick Horn OK Pleassss. Among other Bollywood biggies, Saif Ali Khan, who never holds back when it comes to voicing his opinion, has joined the #MeToo debate. 

The Sacred Games actor expressed his views on the subject. He said that it was awful that people take advantage of young girls, who come looking for work, with no one to protect them. 

In an interview with PTI, Saif opened up on his foul experience of being harassed. The actor didn't shy away from talking about the kind of harassment he faced during his early days.

The Luv Aajkal actor was quoted as saying "I have also been harassed in my career, not sexually, but I have been harassed 25 years ago and I am still angry about it". He further added, "Most people don’t understand other people. It is very difficult to understand other people’s pain. I don’t want to talk about it because I am not important today. Even when I think about what happened with me I still get angry. Today, we have to look after women. People are offended and they want justice. What it is happening is good and it gives you a sense that something is happening.”

He also spoke about how he would react if someone ill-treated his daughter Sara, who will make her debut with Rohit Shetty's Simmba, this year.

He said, "If someone asks my daughter to come to see him at Madh Island, I will go with her and punch that man in the face. If she tells me this guy said this to me, he will then be fighting me in the court. I am sorry, but that's my reaction to it. He wouldn't dare to do it again. Every girl should have that kind of security."

Saif backed the #MeToo movement and said that "what it is happening is good" and that the guilty must be brought to book. He said, "You are removing someone (from the job) and it is a big deal. You are removing a person, but everybody has worked on a project so you have to balance things. People who have sexually harassed and abused women should pay for it."

Saif Ali Khan has put forward his opinion and he thinks not working with people who mistreat women is right and they must know how disgusting it is. 

Further talking about Sajid Khan and his attitude towards the women, the actor said he doesn't remember anything or this sort happening on the sets of Humshakals, notherwise he would not have tolerated it. "I don’t remember anything like this happening genuinely because if it would have happened I would not have been comfortable in that environment or allowed it to happen in front of me. I would hate an atmosphere where women are being looked down upon or mistreated in any way. I don’t think that’s how an atmosphere should be".

While many Bollywood celebrities have been accused of sexual harassment, there are many new names being added to the list daily. The movement has given a courage to many women to take a stand against sexual harassment and voice their sufferings. Names such as Nana Patekar, Rajat Kapoor, Aloknath, Subhash Ghai, Bhushan Kumar, and Sajid Khan, among others have been highlighted.

On the work front, Saif Ali Khan has a kitty full of upcoming projects. Saif will be next seen in Bazaar. The actor is reuniting with Ajay Devgn in Taanaji, 12 years after Omkara. Saif will be playing a character with shades of grey.