Zoya Akhtar has this to say about #MeToo movement in Bollywood

Mumbai: After delivering critically acclaimed movies like Gully Boy, Dil Dhadakne Do and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara among others, Zoya Akhtar has established herself as one of the foremost directors of contemporary times. As an empowered filmmaker, she has an eminent voice and position in the film industry to look at the MeToo movement that burgeoned in 2018 in the entertainment industry, with equanimity.

Talking about it, the director-producer feels that the movement still has a long way to go. “I think the movement has helped to give women in the industry a lot of self-confidence. Many women didn’t even know they were being harassed; many were confused. Even men in many cases didn’t know their behaviour was inappropriate. Now they do,” she says.

After the movement Bollywood had to amp up their policies. “That’s a big step ahead for women’s safety. It is by law compulsory now to have a committee for the safety of women in every production house. Women are not asking for much, only that they should be safe in their workplace,” she affirms Zoya.

Now several production house have decided to not employ women. Commenting on it Zoya says, “That’s very very sad. It speaks volumes about the work ethics of the production companies which have taken this decision. They would rather not have the invaluable contribution women bring to to their work process than provide a safe work environment to women. I feel that these production houses are lazy and they are sexist.”