Mumbai: A handful of filmmakers are among the more than 2,000 people who signed an open letter condemning the media’s witch hunt of Rhea Chakraborty in light of the death of her boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
The film personalities who signed the open letter include Anurag Kashyap, Mira Nair Frieda Pinto, Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, Alankrita Shrivastava, Gauri Shinde, Reema Kagti, Ruchi Narain, Rasika Dugal, Nitya Mehra, Amruta Subhash, Mini Mathur, Dia Mirza. and Kubbra Sait.
Various TV channels have been stalking various personalities, notably Rhea Chakraborty, who have featured in the controversy since the Rajput’s death.
Chakraborty has been arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with drug-related charges in the Rajput death case. The 34-year-old actor was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14.
An NCB Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating the drug case in which 18 people, including Chakraborty, his brother Showik Chakraborty, Rajput manager Samuel Miranda, domestic helper Dipesh Sawant and others have been arrested. .
The open letter, addressed to “the beloved media of India” is published on a blog called Feminist Voices and has more than 2,500 signatories from all walks of life.
“Dear Indian media. We are concerned about you. Are you feeling well?” He asks.
“Because, as we watch her Rhea Chakraborty witch hunt, we cannot understand why she has abandoned every professional ethic of journalism, every principle of human decency and dignity, and chosen instead to physically assault a young woman with her equipment. on camera, incessantly violating her privacy and working overtime on false accusations and moralistic innuendo for a ‘Rhea ko phasao’ drama, “the letter reads.
The letter denounces the media for being “obsessed” with creating the narrative of a young woman as a “morally dubious character” because she speaks for herself rather than “acting like a damsel in distress.”
Drawing parallels in the coverage of the cases of actors Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, the letter urged the media to show the same kindness and respect towards Chakraborty that it had shown to these actors.
“We know that you can be different because we have seen you be kind and respectful to the Salman Khans and Sanjay Dutts of this world, urging us to think about their families, fans and careers,” the letter read, asking why the media had done it. ” she murdered Chakraborty’s character and incited an online mob against her and her family.
“It is easy to victimize a young woman because there are many people who no longer believe, shame and abuse women, for their smallest freedoms. Without a doubt, it is cheaper than doing real stories on a number of topics, from GDP even health, currently facing us, “the letter said.
Citing the disturbing rise in domestic violence during the pandemic, the letter condemned the media for promoting harmful stereotypes of “vishkanyas” and “dayans” while trivializing depression and perpetuating regressive stereotypes about mental health.
“We are writing to ask you, the media, to stop this unfair Rhea Chakraborty witch hunt and to stop nurturing the moral polarities of good women to be deified and bad women to be crucified, which puts endanger all women. Do the right thing and responsible. Your jobs. Look for news, not women, “adds the letter.
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