Fatima Sana Shaikh On Sexual Misconduct On Film Set: "After Me Too, People Are Fearful"
New Delhi:
Fatima Sana Shaikh, who will be next seen in Metro... In Dino, opened up about sexual misconduct on film set, casting couch and power dynamics in an interview with Humans Of Bombay. The Dangal actress said there's a conspicuous change after the #MeToo movement (2018) but the industry has to go a long way.
What's Happening
Fatima Sana Shaikh, who's known for speaking her mind out, told Humans Of Bombay that people "are more accountable" now and they are a little more "fearful".
"There is a conversation. There is an investigation... it exists in every industry," she added that complaints are taken more seriously than before.
"You are working with someone, you have become intimate. But then you don't understand, the lines are blurred. Then there is the dynamic of the power," Fatima weighed in on the debate of a thin blurry line existing between the professional and personal lives, often making the grey areas of sexual misconduct unnoticed.
Talking about the change where women can talk about their experiences in public, Fatima said, "Because it is a male-dominant industry. And now, after Me Too, women can talk about it... You will be held accountable."
Reflecting upon her own personal experiences, Fatima said she's been into "uncomfortable" positions but never faced outright sexual misconduct on film set.
"It's not like the industry is bad. Any incident that has happened, it's just been this one little, small-time somebody and some conversation," she remarked.
Praising the OTT giants which have ensured women's safety on the sets of the film, Fatima said, "Somebody will come from this agency... you will have a meeting with the cast, crew, and all the HODs. You will be told what your rights are, what is appropriate, what is not," Fatima explained, referring to the PoSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) sessions that are now mandatory during shoots.
In A Nutshell
Fatima Sana Shaikh revealed she never faced sexual misconduct on sets. However, she's often been put into "uncomfortable" situations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Anupam Kher recalls a hilarious massage incident that left Amitabh Bachchan embarrassed on Hum sets: 'When I started massaging Shilpa Shirodkar's mother...'
As The Great Indian Kapil Show returns with Season 3, its second episode featured the star cast of Metro… In Dino , which is slated for release on July 4, 2025. During the show, veteran actor Anupam Kher took a trip down memory lane and shared a behind-the-scenes anecdote from the sets of Hum. He recalled a funny moment involving a massage he gave to his co-star's mother, which eventually led to Amitabh Bachchan teasing him. This revelation came after Anupam mentioned that he had briefly worked as a masseur before entering the film industry. Anupam Kher reveals he once worked as a masseur Kher shared that after completing his course at the National School of Drama, he took up a massage course and even worked in the field for a short while. 'After I finished my course at the National School of Drama, all my formal education—from first standard to third—ended,' he joked. He added, 'Maine 3 mahine ka massage ka course kiya. Massage ki bhi thi 2 mahine (I did a massage course for 3 months and worked in massage therapy for 2 months).' The Hum shoot incident that had everyone in splits Continuing the conversation, Kher shared a hilarious memory from the sets of Hum. 'During the shoot, Amit ji and others were sitting around, and I was giving massages to everyone — I even gave one to Danny [Denzongpa],' he said. He then recalled, 'When I started massaging Shilpa Shirodkar's mother, the electricity suddenly went out. Shilpa ji's mother was saying, 'Oh Anupam!' in a dramatic tone.' Amitabh Bachchan couldn't resist poking fun at the situation. 'Amit ji shouted loudly, 'Bhaiya, light jaldi le aao!' (Brother, bring the electricity quickly!),' Kher recounted with a laugh. Kapil Sharma couldn't help but tease Anupam for the story, adding to the laughter on set.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
One Week to Win: July 2025's Ruthless Box Office Race Leaves No Breathing Room
Bollywood faces a chaotic July 2025 with a glut of film releases, creating intense competition for screen space. Multiple major films launch every Friday, leaving each just a week to succeed before being overshadowed. This crowded calendar, culminating in an August clash of titans, threatens smaller films and demands strategic coordination to avoid industry-wide losses. By all accounts, July 2025 is not just another release-heavy month for Bollywood — it's a high-stakes game of musical chairs, where the music never stops, and the chairs (or in this case, cinema screens) keep disappearing. With back-to-back releases every single Friday, each film has barely a week to shine before being bulldozed by the next big arrival. In a month bursting at the seams with stars, genres, and studio-backed projects, the room to breathe — let alone build word-of-mouth — has vanished. It's a zero-sum game, and only a few will walk away winners. One Week to Earn It All In a typical release calendar, films count on at least two solid weeks to capitalize on early buzz and find their audience. But July 2025 offers no such luxury. With every Friday blocked by two or more major releases, each title is effectively handed just one week to earn as much as it can before screen counts drop and public attention shifts elsewhere. Take Akshardham and Metro... In Dino , both releasing on July 4. While one is a hard-hitting terrorism drama led by Akshaye Khanna and the other a music-laced relationship tale from Anurag Basu, they'll have to split the audience right from day one. And even if either performs strongly — say Metro... In Dino rides on Basu's storytelling and its ensemble cast to earn solid word-of-mouth — it'll still have to cede prime shows by July 11, when Maalik and Aankhon Ki Gusthakiyaan hit theatres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Gorgeous Women, Ranked BigGlobalTravel Undo In any other month, films like Maalik , an action-heavy masala entertainer with Rajkummar Rao in a rare commercial avatar, or Aankhon Ki Gusthakiyaan , a romantic musical introducing Shanaya Kapoor, could have slowly built momentum. But in July, they're racing against a ticking clock — not just for box office numbers, but for visibility. Exhibitors will inevitably choose fresh content on July 18, meaning even a Week 1 success story gets buried under the avalanche of new releases. Mid-Month Mayhem: The Real Crunch The situation gets even more intense around mid-July. The 18th sees the release of Saiyaara , Mohit Suri's big bet under the YRF banner, a romantic saga pairing newcomers Ahaan Pandey and Aneet Padda. Under normal circumstances, a film like this would expect a generous rollout, backed by a powerful marketing push. But now, it will be forced to share the spotlight with Nikita Roy , a last-minute entry into the July 18 roster, shifted from June 27 due to lack of screen space. Sonakshi Sinha's Nikita Roy , directed by her brother Kussh S. Sinha, is expected to eat into Saiyaara 's share of multiplexes, especially since both are youth-oriented dramas with overlapping urban appeal. Add to that the family pull of Smurfs , an animated Hollywood release on the same day, and what you have is a complete chokehold on screens and audience segments. This mid-month bottleneck perfectly illustrates the risks of July 2025: there is no second weekend cushion. If you don't explode out of the gate, your chances of survival vanish by Friday. The Lucky Last: July 25 Releases Have the Edge Ironically, the only films with a real shot at sustained box office runs are the ones releasing last — on July 25. With no major Hindi releases slated for August's first two weekends (thanks to the massive clash of War 2 and Coolie on August 14), these films are uniquely positioned to enjoy a two-week unopposed window. Among these are three high-profile titles: Fantastic Four: First Steps , Son of Sardaar 2 , and Param Sundari . Marvel's Fantastic Four , with Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby , is expected to dominate in metros and among English-speaking audiences. Ajay Devgn's Son of Sardaar 2 will play strongly in tier-2 cities and North India, tapping into the recall value of its 2012 predecessor. Meanwhile, Param Sundari , a romantic comedy starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor , is a clear multiplex play, aimed at couples and younger viewers. Crucially, all three films will enjoy uninterrupted exhibition across two weekends — a luxury no other July release has been afforded. That alone could make or break their commercial prospects. Even if Fantastic Four cannibalizes some of the multiplex screens, there's enough room in the calendar for all three to co-exist and run healthy circuits. Theatres Caught in the Crossfire What makes July particularly chaotic is the position of exhibitors, who are left juggling a dozen films in four weeks with limited screens. Multiplex chains are being forced to make hard calls — sometimes rotating shows every day, sometimes allocating a single screen per film in peak cities. Single screens, too, are stuck choosing between star power and audience preferences. In such a climate, even films that are well-made and well-reviewed risk being pushed aside. Smaller or mid-budget movies, which typically rely on longevity and word-of-mouth to generate returns, are the biggest casualties. Distributors, too, are feeling the heat. With revenues increasingly back-loaded and OTT deals contingent on theatrical performance, a film's fate is now sealed by Sunday night of opening weekend. August Looms Large What's even more ironic is that this July crush doesn't ease up in August. On August 14, Coolie and War 2 — two of the year's most explosive titles — will collide head-on. Lokesh Kanagaraj's Coolie , starring Rajinikanth and featuring appearances by Nagarjuna and Aamir Khan, is a pan-India juggernaut. Meanwhile, War 2 , starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr. NTR, is YRF's crown jewel and promises thunderous action and high-octane drama. Their arrival all but guarantees that July releases must make their mark in 7 days or risk annihilation. Conclusion: A Calendar Crisis What we're witnessing in July 2025 is not just a busy release slate — it's a warning. Bollywood's release calendar is on the verge of collapse unless studios, exhibitors, and distributors start coordinating better. The solution may lie in smarter spacing, staggered regional rollouts, or even strategic alliances to avoid cannibalizing the very audiences everyone is chasing. Until then, July remains a survival-of-the-fittest scenario. Films with major stars and marketing muscle — like Metro... In Dino , Saiyaara , or Son of Sardaar 2 — may weather the storm. But for many others, July 2025 will be remembered as a month of missed opportunities and rushed exits. Because in this schedule, one week is all you get — and that might not be enough.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Kapil Sharma blames Archana Puran Singh for Navjot Singh Sidhu's absence from The Great Indian Kapil Show: ‘Kudsi padi hai, banda hadap gayi'
Navjot Singh Sidhu recently made a grand comeback to Kapil Sharma's Netflix show The Great Indian Kapil Show 3, as a co-judge with Archana Puran Singh. While his return was met with applause in the first episode of the latest season, his seat was empty in the second episode. With the entire team of Metro… In Dino as guests, both fans and Kapil wondered where Sidhu was. Apparently, Archana had locked him in his own vanity van. After kicking off the episode, a surprised Kapil asked Archana, 'Sidhu ji kidhar hain? (Where is Sidhu ji)' To which, she replied, 'Mujhe kya pata (I don't know).' The camera then cut to the former cricketer in his vanity van, struggling to come out as the door has been locked from the outside. Looking clueless, he complained while knocking, 'I have knocked 2-3 times, no one is opening it. Oye, hello! Who locked the door? Is there anyone outside?' A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Kapil Sharma then asked Archana Puran Singh, 'Gaayab toh nahi kar diya unko? (Did you make him disappear?)' Archana quipped, 'Netflix ka koi cup hai jo main gaayab kar dungi? (Is he a Netflix cup that I'd make him disappear?)' Kapil replied, 'Matlab cup, plate utha leti ho? (So you steal cups and plates?)' To this, she joked, 'It's an old habit — leave it.' Kapil then started dialing Sidhu's number to check where he was. But Archana, who had his phone with her, cut the call and said, 'I told you he won't take your call. He'll take some other commentary work — you just worry about your show.' Kapil laughed it off, saying, 'Sidhu ji bhi na, ek din mein do-do kaam pakad lete hain. (Sidhu ji, I tell you — he takes up two jobs in a single day!)' ALSO READ | Kapil Sharma calls Archana Puran Singh's vlogs 'an excuse for her family to feast for free': 'It's not called a vlog, it's called fraud' During Sunil Grover's act in the episode, he appeared as veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty. As he delivered his punchlines, clips were shown on the screen of him—dressed as Sidhu—laughing on the couch. Towards the end, when the cast of the film played musical chairs, Archana Puran Singh tried to explain the rules. Kapil Sharma quipped, 'Yes, she will tell. Inse acha kaun jaanta hai ki kudsi kaise hadapte hain? (Who knows better than her how to snatch someone's chair?) Kudsi padi bhi hui hai, banda hadap gayi (The chair was right there, and she took the man's spot too).' At the end, Archana was seen unlocking the door of Sidhu's vanity van and hiding behind it. He came out and said, 'Who locked it? Jhaklandi. Mil gaya na, photo taang dunga killi par.' After which, the actor was seen laughing and dancing celebrating a successful mission of not letting Sidhu reach the sets. A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) The episode featured the cast of Metro In Dino, including Konkana Sen, Pankaj Tripathi, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aditya Roy Kapur, Neena Gupta, Anupam Kher, Sara Ali Khan, Ali Fazal, and their director Anurag Basu. It is streaming on Netflix.
