India’s #MeToo: Women accuse Chetan Bhagat, Vikas Bahl, senior journalists of sexual harassment

Social media in India has once again exploded with allegations of sexual harassment as more women have started resorting to the #MeToo movement to break their silence. This time around it has hit the media and entertainment industry.

Actor Kangana Ranaut, who played the lead role in Vikas Bahl's Queen, has accused the director of sexually harassing on the sets of the film. Kangana spoke up in support of the survivor, who accused Bahl of sexual harassment and said, "Totally believe her. Even though Vikas was married back in 2014 when we were filming 'Queen', he bragged about having casual sex with a new partner every other day. I don't judge people and their marriages but you can tell when addiction becomes sickness. He partied every night and shamed me for sleeping early and not being cool enough."

“Every time we met socially greeted and hugged each other, he’d bury his face in my neck. He would hold me really tight and breathe in the smell of my hair. It took me great amount of strength and effort to pull myself out of his embrace. He’d say, I love how you smell K,” said Kangana

Another woman shared screenshots of a conversation between her and Chetan Bhagat, in which the author says he wants to woo her and ignores her protests that he is married.

Later, Bhagat released a statement on social media, saying he wanted to “apologise to the person concerned”, said he had felt “a strong connection” with her, and added he may have “misread the friendliness”.

Journalist and writer Sandhya Menon alleged that senior Times of India editor KR Sreenivas had behaved in an inappropriate manner with her several years ago.

Journalist Divya Karthikeyan has alleged that writer, journalist and cultural critic Sadanand Menon sexually harassed her. Sadanand has been allegedly accused of sexual harassment by multiple people already. He recently dropped the course that he was teaching at the Asian College of Journalism following protests by students and others.

Journalist Anoo Bhuyan has alleged that Mayank Jain of Business Standard made unwelcome sexual advances at her.

With inputs from Bharti Dubey