A few years ago, I was interviewing a female child artist for a newspaper report. Back at my desk, I ran a quick Google search for her photographs. The second option in the search drop down asked me if I wanted to take a peek at the 'hot' pictures of the 14-year-old child. I cringed. Years later, I am reminded of the incident; Daisy Irani, one of Bollywood's popular child actors, opened up about a story of abuse. In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, Irani said she was raped when she was six years old, during a film shoot.
Irani's revelations sent shockwaves across the industry and media. But then again, does it really come as a surprise? Irani herself seemed surprised at the frenzy. Haven't we always known these things happen in showbiz? That it is the time of #MeToo and #TimesUp when women in showbiz are sharing their stories of abuse, and standing up for gender parity in the entertainment industry. Though the movement shook up Hollywood, Bollywood is yet to witness a #MeToo moment. That brings us to another pertinent question—do we need another #MeToo movement for the children in showbiz?
Irani's story could very well be one of the millions of such tales hidden away in the closet, tucked away in a scarred corner of the mind of a now popular artist, or even a children's reality show participant. Who can forget the recent Papon incident. The popular playback singer, who is also a judge on the reality show 'Voice India Kids' posted a video on his Facebook page that triggered a widespread outcry.
The video that went viral, and got Papon booked for harassment, shows the singer applying colour to a minor contestant's face, and planting a kiss on her lips. What exactly would the child have felt at the moment—stunned, embarrassed, confused? To make matters worse, the contestant's father said that Papon was his daughter's mentor and like a father figure to her. “It was just a moment of affection that is being portrayed otherwise," he said. The father's statements pretty much reflect his fears—that his child might miss out on making it big.
Such stories cry out loud for a solid code of conduct for children working in the entertainment industry—what should they be allowed to do, or don't do, who gets to spend time with the child, what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate touch, and so on. Reality shows for children have only made the situation murkier with a deadly combination—vulnerable children, ambitious parents, and powerful celebs.
These shows very often have ended up as platform for objectification and sexualisation of little children. Like veteran actress Shabana Azmi rightly reminded at a talk show earlier this month: “Please be informed, when you say mein tandoori murgi hu, gatka lo mujhe alcohol kay saath and a four-year-old girl is dancing to it, you are leading to the sexualisation of children. The parents who are enjoying it, and the people who are encouraging her are just as responsible." Child beauty pageants are another one of those showbiz events that commodify childhood, and pave way for many stories that don't get shared. Getting little children to walk around in party wear, casual wear, and swim wear, to impress a bunch of adults is not exactly the idea of promoting talent or beauty of childhood.
In July last year, filmmaker Shoojit Sircar reignited the debate with a tweet: “Humble request to authorities to urgently ban all reality shows involving children. It's actually destroying them emotionally & their purity.”
A popular TV soap Tu Aashiqui has been in the news recently, for tussle between the parents of the leading lady 16-year-old Jannat Zubair and the makers of the show over a kissing scene. In an interview, Jannat said it all started with the makers demanding that the lead actor Aahan kiss Jannat and remove colour from her face and neck, while filming a Holi sequence. It moved on to other demands like a kiss on the hand and her forehead, as the plot demanded so.
While Jannat's parents have strictly objected to the scene, citing their daughter is a minor, makers reportedly were hunting for a new face to replace Jannat. According to latest reports, the producers have agreed to the young actress's condition of not kissing onscreen. How many artists or their parents, however, would put their foot down so firmly?
Reality shows and showbiz could be a quick ticket to fame and money, and for many an ambitious parent, they set out on this journey, compromising the safety and innocence of childhood. Let the children enjoy childhood, not be emotionally and physically drained. And be it another story of Daisy Irani or any other child, let the stories be heard. Louder.