Insensitive, sexist? Alok Nath reacts after being accused of rape by former colleague

Mumbai: Veteran actor Alok Nath has reacted to allegations of rape put on him by Vinta Nanda, writer-producer of his hit TV show ‘Tara’, among others, in an insensitive manner by saying someone else must have abused her.

“Kuch to log kahenge (people always have something to say). Neither I am denying this nor do I would agree with it. It (rape) must have happened, but someone else would have done it (sic). Well, I do not want to talk much about it as for the matter if it has come out, it will be stretched," he told ABP News.

In what is being seen as India’s #MeToo movement, several other celebrities like Vikas Bahl, Nana Patekar, Rajat Kapoor, AIB comedians Gursimran Khamba and Utsav Chakraborty have also been accused and Nath acknowledged that Nanda’s claims are a result of this movement.

But he had another unacceptable and probably sexist views on it, "However, we only have to hear to women's stand because they are considered weak (sic)."

Further talking about the allegations, he outright denied it, "What do I have to do with people? People will say anything to spoil the image. Leave my image, whatever has been said, it is absurd."

Apart from the allegations, Nanda had also revealed in her post that their friends had patched them up after the first horrific incident she mentioned. And Nath, apart from their friendship, takes credit for her success too. "At one time she used to be such a good friend... today she said such a big thing. In a way, it was me who made her what she is,"

He concluded by saying, "It is useless to react on the allegations as in today's world whatever a woman says, only that will be considered. In such a situation, it would be wrong to say anything."

Nanda in a Facebook post on Monday, had accused him of sexually violating after spiking her drink at a party at his house and dropping her home when she was intoxicated. She also accused him of sexually harassing ‘Tara’ co-actor Navneet Nishan.