In terms of hypocritical stands, Sonam Kapoor is unmatched. From gender-neutral clothing to bashing Kangana Ranaut while simultaneously claiming to be a champion of women’s rights, Sonam Kapoor has an illustrious track-record when it comes to saying something and then doing the exact opposite. In this illustrious cap, another feather has been added.
Very recently, Sonam Kapoor stated that she ‘Supports the movement but judgment should be reserved on this subject’. The subject in concern here is sexual harassment allegations against Director Rajkumar Hirani. Elaborating further, Sonam Kapoor added “I am a huge supporter of the #MeToo movement and this is a very important question… This is not the right platform because our film is as important as the movement. I know Raju Hirani very well, I have known him for many years and I have huge respect for him as a filmmaker and as a man. I think we all should reserve judgement and be very responsible before we say anything more on this subject… Because we don’t need to derail this movement.”
However, the most striking comment from Sonam Kapoor on the issue of Rajkumar Hirani was, “I always want to believe a woman but suppose by chance, if it is not true, then how bad it will be for the movement, especially if it is somebody like Raju Hirani.”
Hey fake feminist champion @sonamakapoor why this kolaveri di?
Why no placard against Rajkumar Hirani just because he is your friend or what? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/V65ZFqwBTr— Akshay (@akshaykatariyaa) January 30, 2019
The allegations against Rajkumar Hirani came out in January 2019. An assistant crew member in an email addressed to theatre veteran and filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra, his wife and film critic Anupama Chopra, and director Shelly Chopra Dhar, accused Raj Kumar Hirani of passing lewd comments at her, and then sexually assaulting her at his home office. According to the email, most of this happened during the post-production of ‘Sanju’.
According to a report by Huffington Post, the victim reported further in the email, “I remember forming these words on my lips – ‘Sir. This is wrong. Because of this power structure. You being the absolute power and me being a mere assistant, a nobody — I will never be able to express myself to you.” “My mind, body and heart were grossly violated that night and for the next 6 months”, she added.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, not only the Bollywood fraternity stayed silent but the flag bearer of feminism, Sonam Kapoor, has now come out defending him. The hypocrisy and the double standards on the issue are bound to hurt the #Metoo movement but Sonam Kapoor’s interest lies more in defending his ‘friend’ rather than actually standing up for something.