Need to create more awareness about #metoo movement, says Tamannah Bhatia

Actress Tamannaah Bhatia started working in the film industry very early in her life. When she made her debut in 2005, she was only 15 and in the years since then, she has worked across Tamil, Telugu and Hindi film industry.

“I have been lucky that I am getting consistently good work from South. It keeps me on my toes,” says the 29-year-old actress who is so busy with her commitments in South that she is missing from action in Bollywood.

“I am still open to working in Hindi films. It’s a great time, good content is being made,” says Tamannaah. When asked if she misses Bollywood and her city Mumbai, the actress says, “I have not been around for too many years to realise how does it feel to miss it. I have done only four films. I do miss home while I travel but as far as Hindi films are concerned, nothing is exciting enough to take. I keep hearing (scripts) and I am waiting for the right one.”

In Bollywood, Tamannaah has worked in films like Himmatwala and Humshakals, which were made by Sajid Khan. The filmmaker is one of the many names that surfaced in the #MeToo movement in India.

While actress Vidya Balan has clearly said she wouldn’t work with Sajid again, we asked Tamannaah about her experience of working with him and would she be keen to work with him agian ?

“For me, it has always been about the script and what’s the kind of film that I am working on. When I worked with Sajid, unfortunately, none of our films did well,” says the actress and adds, “He never treated me in any bad way and I was completely comfortable working with him.  Everyone has a different experience and everybody is entitled to their own opinion and experience. If Vidya has had a bad experience, it’s normal for her to react like that.”

Talking more about the #MeToo movement, she says, “Film industry is not an alien place where one needs to be protected. It’s a very professional environment like every other industry, be it the corporate world or any other industry. The #MeToo movement is not just about the film industry. We got to keep creating the awareness and fear and that’s all we can do.”

The actress also has a no kissing on screen clause in her contract. Talking about it she said: "Nobody forces you and in my case, I was very specific when I started my career. I had that clarity. It is my perspective and I stick to that and nobody can force you in the film industry or the worldwide. When people say I was forced to do it, I don’t understand that because you are a mature individual and you can make a choice,” further adds the Bahubali actress who also has a no on-screen clause in her contract.

Meanwhile, there have also been reports about Tamannaah settling down soon. Reacting to them, she says, “I am not looking at settling down anytime soon whenever it has to happen it will happen.”