New Delhi: After Kashmera Shah and Shehnaaz Gill, another celebrity has come out in support of filmmaker-producer Sajid Khan on his participation in 'Bigg Boss 16' as a contestant. Sajid's appearance on the show has been widely criticized by many on social media and even celebrities like Uorfi Javed. Now, Payal Rohatgi, former Bigg Boss 2 contestant has come out in support of Khan. This the first time since 2018 that Sajid has returned to a public platform post sexual allegations against him during the MeToo movement wherin many actresses accused him of harrassment.
Taking to her Instagram story, Payal wrote, "Sajid Khan has done wrong with 6 women as they narrated publicly. He has been reprimanded by all and publicly humiliated for his actions. Now the 6 women can take him to court. But let me put it on record when even murderers have been given the right to reform by the values of Mahatma Gandhi then here even Sajid Khan has the right to live. He has the right to earn money. He has the right to repent."
Payal also took a dig at Mandana Karimi who had recently announced that she has decided to quit Bollywood after Sajid Khan began participating on the show. Mandana is one of the women who accused Sajid of harassment during the film 'Hamshakals' when he allegedly asked her to take her clothes off to get a role.
Payal wrote for Mandana, "Let him fight for his right. You oppose him but don’t do the drama of quitting Bollywood.” She also shared a part of Mandana's statements that read, “This (Bollywood) is no place to work, it has no respect for women.” The 'Lock Upp' contestant shared the post and added, “You should not stay in Iran too as women aren’t respected there either.”
Recently, in an interview with Hindustan Times, Mandana had spoken about the Me Too movement and how it had failed to achieve much. “It does make me feel sad. To be honest, that is also the reason I have not worked for the last seven months. I’m not working anymore. I didn’t go to any auditions. I don’t want to work in Bollywood. I don’t want to be involved with an industry where there is no respect for women,”