The latest to be stung by the #MeToo movement that seems to be engulfing India is none other than Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.
Celebrity hairstylist Sapna Bhavnani took to Twitter to accuse Bachchan of sexual harassment but added that she was never a victim. Sapna said she knew many women who have suffered at the hands of probably Bollywood's biggest star.
The tweet came in response to Bachchan's Facebook post, an interview, where he felt the need for "special protective care" for women against sexual assault and harassment at the workplace.
To this, Sapna tweeted: "This has to be the biggest lie ever. Sir the film Pink has released and gone and your image of being an activist will soon too. Your truth will come out very soon. Hope you are biting your hands cuz nails will not be enough (sic)."
This has to be the biggest lie ever. Sir the film Pink has released and gone and your image of being an activist will soon too. Your truth will come out very soon. Hope you are biting your hands cuz nails will not be enough. @SrBachchan #Metoo #MeTooIndia #comeoutwomen https://t.co/gMQXoRtPW3
— Sapna Moti Bhavnani (@sapnabhavnani) October 11, 2018
In another tweet, she says: "Have personally heard so many stories of Bachchan’s sexual misconduct and I I hope those women come out. His hypocrisy is sooooo tired (sic)."
Have personally heard so many stories of Bachchan’s sexual misconduct and I I hope those women come out. His hypocrisy is sooooo tired. #Metoo #MeTooIndia https://t.co/2BpumLoYlF
— Sapna Moti Bhavnani (@sapnabhavnani) October 11, 2018
you will pay! #MeToo #MeTooIndia https://t.co/Oi4MqGb1hz
— Sapna Moti Bhavnani (@sapnabhavnani) October 12, 2018
Who is Sapna Bhavnani?
The 47-year-old hairstylist runs Mad-O-Wat, a salon with an enviable client list in Mumbai. She said the above comments in response to Bachchan's support for women and the #MeToo movement that has recently seen powerful male personalities in media, sports and entertainment take a hit to their reputation.
However, besides being a self-described "glorified barber", she has done many things related to the arts and entertainment such as appearing in films, directing music videos and starting a line of fashion clothing. Bhavnani became a household name after participating in Bigg Boss Season 6.
Her client list includes personalities such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, Siddharth Mallya and Gauri Khan.
Bhavnani, who grew up in a Sindhi family in Mumbai, moved to the United States in 1989 and relocated to India in 2002. She has appeared in a few Bollywood films and also dabbled in theatre. She was a part of NIRBHAYA, a theatre production that premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2013, based on the December 2012 Delhi gang rape and fatal assault of a woman in a bus.
Amitabh Bachchan is yet to respond to Bhavnani's allegations.
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