Islamabad OCTOBER 10 (Online): Rhea Kapoor took to Instagram and posted a statement, lashing out at the said journalist and calling the person “an obviously unstable” individual.
Producer Rhea Kapoor on Tuesday slammed a trade journalist for posting “dangerous hate speech” against her and the team of her latest production Thank You For Coming. The producer, without disclosing the name, said the journalist has been writing “misogynistic rhetoric” and encouraging “violence” against them.
Thank You For Coming, which released last Friday, stars Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila and Shibani Bedi. It is directed by Rhea’s filmmaker husband Karan Boolani and backed by her and Ekta Kapoor.
Rhea took to Instagram and posted a statement, lashing out at the said journalist and calling the person “an obviously unstable” individual. “I’ve never read trade websites nor have they ever informed the films I choose to make. However, it has come to my attention that one so-called ‘credible’ trade journalist has been posting dangerous hate speech against myself and my co-producers.”
The producer said the trade journalist had not even seen Thank You For Coming but was riled up and was continuing to spew venom against the production. Rhea also questioned the industry’s silence as the journalist is said to have an impact on the way the film industry functions.
“Admitting that he hasn’t seen the film, he’s angered by our message- Women’s rejection of shame. Stating that these stories have no place in ‘Hindi cinema’, he spews misogynistic rhetoric and encourages violence against us. I was told to pay no attention to the ravings of an obviously unstable individual. So, you can imagine my disappointment when I learn that this person actually has some impact on the way our industry feels. How are we ok with this? Not just ok, we’re subscribing to it.
“Inspite of men like him, I cannot emphasise enough how much it means to me to have this film out there, loved and watched. The intent of this film was clear from the very beginning. To reject shame, reject your past traumas and embrace yourself just as you are. I won’t walk this tightrope of what society is comfortable with me being anymore and for your sake, I hope you don’t either. Thank you for coming,” she concluded.
Thank You For Coming is the third feature that Rhea has backed, which chronicles stories of women after Sonam Kapoor-Abhay Deol starrer Aisha and Veere Di Wedding, which featured an ensemble starring Kareena Kapoor, Sonam, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania.
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