Me Too: Singer Hema Sardesai Comes Out In Support Of Indian Idol 11 Judge Anu Malik, Questions The Accusers

In the wake of the #MeToo movement in India, many Bollywood stars have come out and openly spoken about getting harassed by people in power in the entertainment industry. One of the many names that were on the list was that of music director Anu Malik. Even recently, singers Sona Mohapatra had questioned his comeback on Indian Idol as a judge and Neha Bhasin has recounted the story of how she was harassed by the music director.

However, recently singer Hema Sardesai, who is best known for her song Awaara Bhanvre have come out in support of Anu Malik. She wrote a lengthy Instagram post and captioned it,“Pls note this is a selfless post with nothing for me to gain on, accept the satisfaction of standing up for the truth @anumalikmusic @sonytvofficial.” In the post, she wrote, “So many years ago when my struggle carried on in the industry I was the ONLY singer who had clearly stated publicly that I have refused to compromise my values for songs. Why were all others quiet then? And why have they been quiet for so many years? By sheer grace despite my strong principles, I was blessed with many blockbuster hit songs including those directed by Anu Malik. If one of the decent most Singers like me cld have sung some of Anu Malik's greatest songs, it proves there is a great Artiste in him who respected true talent and who respectfully gave me songs on merit alone.”

She further questioned the accusers and wrote, “"I ask some of the singers who are talking against him... why were you quiet for so many years? Are you'll trying to say all the other Music directors who you'll worked with were Gods? Like seriously? Also if for publicity sake you are throwing stones at him, it's not acceptable. I ask those known singers who got most of his big songs why are you'll quiet today when you shld be standing by him? I mean it takes two hands to clap rite? When one of the most RAREST DECENT MOST Singer of the industry says something on this, the people concerned shld sit up and take heed pls.”

There has been much discussion about the question of women complaining about sexual harassment after a long time and people have reasoned again and again why that is not a question one should be asking. While voices against harassment and exploitation are getting stronger, it will be interesting to see how other celebrities from the industry reacts to this statement of Hema Sardesai.