Swara Bhasker has condemned filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri as "low and sick" after he suggested the actress take a trip to Bastar, Chhattisgarh to understand "how the 'real vagina'" feels like.
Ever since Swara has, in a scathing comment on "Padmaavat", said that the film made her feel reduced to a "vagina only" due to the self-immolation climax scene, she has been heavily trolled on social media.
After her Twitter war of words with singer Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, Swara faced the ire of Agnihotri.
"We have interviewed many ‘ex-naxal' women in Bastar. Each has gut-wrenching stories to tell, full of abuse, rape and misogyny. If they marry, they aren't allowed to have children. I think fake feminist Swara Bhasker must make a trip to understand how the 'real vagina' feels like," Agnihotri wrote on Wednesday.
We have interviewed many ‘ex-naxal’ women in Bastar. Each has gut-wrenching stories to tell, full of abuse, rape and misogyny If they marry, they aren’t allowed to have children. I think fake feminist @ReallySwara must make a trip to understand how the Real Vagina feels like.
— Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) January 30, 2018
"What women need to understand that it's because of the fake feminists like Swara that the feminist movement gets jeopardised. You just can't piss off people and win the most critical war of modern times - the gender empathy," he added.
Swara replied: "I'm sorry did you just suggest that I go get myself raped? Like seriously? You typed out this tweet Vivek? I'd say pretty low and sick even by your own abysmal standards of conduct and civility."
I’m sorry did u just suggest that i go get myself raped?????????? Like seriously? You typed out this tweet Vivek... ?????
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 30, 2018
I’d say pretty low and sick even by your own abysmal standards of conduct & civility. https://t.co/d1LCCE9B5I
On Tuesday, at an event here, Swara had justified herself for raising questions through her open letter.
"I had a few questions in mind which I felt was very legit questions, so I asked it. If people do not agree, that's completely fine with me. We live in a democracy, so it's a nice thing that we have difference in opinions on issues and I think we should have debate and discussions because art always has that intent," she said.
#WATCH: Film director Vivek Agnihotri speaks on actress Swara Bhaskar's open letter over film #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/viAPR8uxaq
— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2018
I have already finished a documentary with ex Naxal women. It should be out in couple of months. @madhukishwar You started the feminist movement in India. How does it feel to see fake feminists? https://t.co/rP0DrTxbdI
— Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) January 31, 2018
Did Swara Bhaskar imagine that @vivekagnihotri is suggesting this? I promise I showed his tweet to 10 different women. And they all said he is not even remotely suggesting that. He is merely pointing out to the hardships that some women are made to go through. https://t.co/z2mhEnCQzU
— Soumyadipta (@Soumyadipta) January 31, 2018
No he didn’t. He suggested that you go and see what these women are going through yourself. Stop playing victim. https://t.co/0UUpD8zCRP
— Shreyasi Goenka (@anvivud) January 31, 2018
Aha! Here comes the hang of fake feminists and #UrbanNaxals to create a false narrative. https://t.co/9rBnVAPOez
— Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) January 31, 2018
Dear @karunanundy The genuine war of feminism won’t be won by blocking. It will be won by opening up. pic.twitter.com/a92LfDvuEk
— Vivek Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) January 31, 2018
MY QUESTIONS SHOULD'VE BEEN PART OF NATIONAL DISCUSSION: SWARA
Defending her stance on "Padmaavat" that it made her feel reduced to a "vagina only", actress Swara Bhasker has said the questions she raised via her lengthy open letter were legitimate and should have become a part of national level discussion.
Asked what prompted her to write an open letter to the "Padmaavat" filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Swara said here: "'Padmaavat' has become part of national conversation and I also want to remind people that from the beginning, I supported 'Padmaavat', and criticized The Shree Rajput Karni Sena only because each artist should have freedom to express their thoughts through their art in a safer and democratic environment.
"But once a film get released, then it comes for public consumption and I feel this film became an important film for our country as it opened up a discussion about so many issues. I thought that my questions about this film should also become a part of that national level discussion and that's why I published this letter on a public platform."
Everybody has right to express opinion. I kept my views in a very polite manner & had no wrong intentions. I put forward a few legitimate questions. I didn't expect so much chaos just because I used a word which starts with 'V': Swara Bhaskar on her open letter on #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/huwC1yD8hR
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2018
Swara spoke out about it on the sidelines of the Nexbrands Vision Awards 2018 on Tuesday here.
Her letter last week was a scathing comment, criticising the Jauhar scene that features the film's lead actress Deepika Padukone.
Swara said watching the glorification of Jauhar (self-immolation), she felt like a woman was being reduced to "vagina only". She got trolled also on the social media.
"I think everyone in this country has freedom to express their opinions, so whatever I felt about 'Padmavaat', I expressed through an open letter," she said, stressing that she expressed her opinion in a "very polite and respectful manner" and did not have any vicious intent behind it.
"I had a few questions in mind which I felt was very legit questions, so I asked it. If people do not agree, that's completely fine with me. We live in a democracy, so it's a nice thing that we have difference in opinions on issues and I think we should have debate and discussions because art always has that intent," she said.
Could not agree more with you Richa! Thank you for this voice of reason and sanity 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/PZbDuaLaBX
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 31, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿 thanks Shruti 😘 https://t.co/ldVj3Q7PWl
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 31, 2018
Known for films like "Nil Battey Sannata", "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo", "Anarkali of Aarah" and more, Swara has also been a part of Bhansali's "Guzaarish".
Asked if she sees her free opinion affecting her reputation in the film industry or a chance of reduced film offers, she said: "I didn't give much thought to it before writing it as I didn't have bad intentions about the film or anybody related with the film.
Plain disgusting (and yet not surprising) to see peers from the film industry slut-shaming, issuing veiled rape threats, and abusing @ReallySwara for having an opinion on a film. True picture of where we stand with our misogyny and free-speech. https://t.co/2SHCu6oyjo
— वरुण (@varungrover) January 31, 2018
"I asked legit questions and I think this kind of conversation is necessary in our society. I think it is good that it's happening and apart from that, I didn't think people will take so much interest in my letter. I didn't know that people of India have so much interest in reading."
Besides that, she said she never thought the word "vagina" would create "such a controversy".
If anyone is still wondering why Bollywood folk don't speak up, please look at what intelligent, thinking, conscientious women like @ReallySwara deal with when they do. The flak she's got for this piece is ATROCIOUS. https://t.co/uoSULlxdOh
— Nishita Jha (@NishSwish) January 31, 2018
The actress became angry when asked if she wrote the letter to Bhansali as a publicity stunt or if anyone offered her money to do so.
Swara said: "Will you give me money to speak? Till today, media hasn't given me money, so next time when you want to ask question to me like that, you should pay me first to answer it.
"See.. people can easily target a female actor when such type of a controversy happens, saying that she has received money to speak on such issue or she has bad character or she is jealous or she is doing all this to garner public attention. So all these talks about me has happened earlier as well, so I don't think I need to respond to these rubbish talks."
