I was not raped, but the scars are no less: Bidita Bag in Lucknow

While the #metoo movement might have taken a back seat at the moment, people from the industry still have a lot of personal experiences to share about what happened with them during their struggling years. The latest to speak her heart out is actress Bidita Bag, who shot to fame with the film 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz.' Bidita, who was in Lucknow recently, shared with us about the subject and how she dealt with a similar situation in life."I think after this #metoo movement, the industry has become safer for girls. I can very much relate to the pain of the girls because I have gone through that pain, the degree was less, as I was not raped, but the scars are no less. I have experienced harassment so many times in the industry. The first time it happened to me, I was too shocked to react as I considered that person to be my friend. This was four years ago and I had met this filmmaker and wanted to cast me in one of his projects that he was planning. He has also assisted Ram Gopal Verma in some films, so I found him genuine. Over time, we became friends and one day he took me to a party. On our way back from the party, he tried to molest me in his car. It came as a complete shock to me and I was flabbergasted as I was thinking that how can a person, whom I took as a friend, do such a thing? Aisa nahi hai ki main bhaag nahi sakti thi or I could not have slapped him. Of course I could as I am trained in martial arts, but after that whole incident, I was in a complete state of shock."
Bidita Bag(BCCL/ Farhan Ahmad Siddiqui)
She adds, "I kept on begging him to let me go to which he said ki ‘Bidita why don’t you just enjoy and let loose, yeh sab kaun yaad rakhega? Aaj se kuchh saal baad kisi ko yaad nahi rahega ki kya hua tha’. And I was just listening to his crap and imagining that is he the guy whom I took as a dear friend? He got married recently and have a kid but the way he was behaving I was like totally in a shock," says Bidita, adding, "Aur aisa nahi hai that this was just one incident, there are many where men have just simply undressed in front of me! Yeh sab bahut baar hua hai mere saath. My friends tell me why don’t I report these people to the police or complain about it. But I tell them ki main kya karun? I am more worried about that filmmaker who just got married and has a small kid. Isliye it’s better to keep mum and move ahead in life. Today that filmmaker is nowhere. He is still struggling for that same film and look at me, I have reached a certain position in life," said she.
A popular actress in Bengali cinema, Bidita believes that the entertainment industry follows the path of nepotism and new faces have to struggle a lot to get their first break in the industry. Elucidating more upon the statement, she said, "See nepotism is there and one cannot deny that fact. Every year a star kid is getting launched. So it’s ok because they have parents who have worked their entire life to gain that fame, which they have now passed on to their children. Their children are more privileged in that way. But, after all, if they don’t have talent, they won’t last for long. For an outsider like me, it took me ten years to reach where I am today. I started at an early age of 16 and post 27, I got my first big success which was 'Babumoshai Bandookbaaz.' But if I talk about the star kids, they are privileged right from their birth and have everything served on a platter." Adding, she said, "I think if you need to last long in the industry then you need to build your reputation. If you are not good at your job and you do not have a good fan following, good se I mean genuine fan following, then that actor will not last for long. Family plays a very important and big role, especially in the entertainment industry. They create that environment and ambience of basic training. Like mujhe toh bahut baad main pata chala that in order to be famous, one needs to have a fashionable and trendy wardrobe, good diction, proper training in various acting courses. But for star kids, I think they were told since childhood or probably they have grown up seeing that. Jaise doctor ke bache doctor hote hain, waise I think actor ke bache actor hote hain."
Making the conversation a bit light, we asked her about her stay in Lucknow this time, to which she said, "I have stayed in this city for almost a month and trust me, the feeling was just wonderful when I came this time. People are so nice and full of warmth, and moreover, they have become shooting friendly. It’s because I think Lucknow has become more of a shooting place rather than a tourist place. Also, at one point of time, I felt that I am shooting in Mumbai as every other film is being shot here. It seems half of Bollywood is in Lucknow, shooting."
Dressed in a chikan suit, Bidita owned up to loving the embroidered cloth. "I am actually fascinated by these beautiful chikan saris and suits. You know, I have a separate wardrobe for my chikan suits and saris. My friends come over to my place and say that I have such a lovely collection of chikan suits, to which I tell them that credit goes to Lucknow which gives me the opportunity to buy more and more of them," said she.
— Prachi Arya