New Delhi: Actress Mandana Karimi has decided to end her association with Bollywood after MeToo accused filmmaker Sajid Khan was welcomed to the reality TV show 'Bigg Boss Season 16' hosted by Salman Khan. Mandana said that there is no respect for women in the industry and that Sajid is now being a part of the show. Sajid Khan was accused by several women almost four years back when the MeToo movement led to revelations about sexual assault in the industry by people misuing their power to take advantage of women. Mandana was one of them who accused the 'Humshakals' producer for asking her to remove her clothes when she went to him for the film. She had alleged that Sajid said, "If I like what I see, you might get the part".
Mandana also says that she is not surprised that Sajid is back in the entertainment industry without facing any repercussions. “To be honest, I’m not surprised to see him back in the spotlight. For people, life has become like I will put my head under the sand. If it is going to benefit me, and I can make money, then who cares? That shows why the MeToo movement in India and many other countries didn’t really reach anywhere,” Karimi was quoted by a Hindustan Times report.
“It was just a few women, they came, they spoke and that was it. What is the action? Who is boycotting these people? Nothing is going to happen. Because we are talking about the bigger industry, which is a place where someone is someone’s mom, boyfriend, girlfriend or husband. It’s like you, you scratch my back, and I will scratch your back," she added.
“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,” the same report added.
Mandana, who was last seen in 'Lock Upp', a reality show hosted by Kangana Ranaut, also spoke about the show and said,“I’m still fighting for my money. My full payment hasn’t come, the show was over five months back. I am still waiting to know why they aren’t clearing my dues."
Mandana also spoke about her plans after quitting Bollywood. She said,"Because being a woman, it’s not easy. I need to see what makes me happy because life is too short to compromise for anyone… There are people who agree to compromise and keep their mouth shut, or not talk about the things happening around, thinking what difference will one person make. That is the main problem.. Let’s see where my life takes me."