Malaika says boys need to be taught to respect women

Malaika Arora believes it is imperative for parents to teach their sons to respect women in light of #MeToo movement in India.

Many Bollywood figures like Nana Patekar, Sajid Khan, Alok Nath and Vikas Bahl have been accused of sexual harassment and misconduct by multiple women that has been described as the arrival of India's own #MeToo movement.

Malaika said the patriarchal mindset of the society has to change and it can only happen during the growing up phase.

"I have a son and it is necessary to make them understand early on that they need to respect women and they can't take them for granted. You cannot take women as play objects.

"Unfortunately, that is the mindset. There is a sense of entitlement. You think you have power over women and you can suppress her. This mindset has to change when they are kids when they are children. Hopefully, this will change," she said Saturday at a media interaction for India's Got Talent.

Malaika, who has featured in several films and has been a former model, was also asked about Sajid with whom she worked in movies such as "Heyy Baby", "Housefull" and "Housefull 2".

"Just because we have work together.. We don't need to target somebody. If a woman has spoken you have to hear her out and I am sure law will take its course. And if you are at fault then you should be punished," she said.

Sajid has been accused of sexual harassment by three female actors and a journalist and has since stepped down as the director of "Housefull 4", which also stars Akshay Kumar and Bobby Deol.