Controversy’s favourite child, Rakhi Sawant, 33, is hardly the shy type. Now, she is at it again. Having been in the news recently for taking on Tanushree Dutta’s #MeToo allegations, Rakhi is firing up all cylinders, and in no mood to slow down.
Having been associated with India’s fabled film industry for the last 15 years, and having “done bigger banners and more films than Tanushree”, Rakhi, who calls herself an “illiterate”, has worked hard in Bollywood to carve a niche for herself. “If Tanushree is Miss India, I am Miss Andheri West,” says a defiant Rakhi, who is famous for her colourful one-liners. “Bollywood is my janmabhoomi and karmabhoomi. All those who know me, know that whatever I am is because of Bollywood,” says Rakhi. “I took a lot of time and struggled hard, but I have never compromised till today. Yes, I wore short skirts, did item numbers and flaunted my body, but I never resorted to shortcuts and I didn’t compromise or sleep with anybody to move up,” says the dancer, model and TV actress who is very clear that she “will never support lies”.
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Rakhi, who was once a close friend of Tanusree, believes that there is a campaign to vilify India and Bollywood, which is why the #MeToo has been imported from the US. “They are raising America’s flag, while trying to tarnish India’s image,” says Rakhi. She believes that Tanushree is on a mission to prove that Indian men are rapists and that India is a country where girls get raped. “I am going to ensure that she does not succeed because ours is a country where Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar, Vivekananda, Indira and Modi were born, so I am not going to let her destroy India,” she says.
Rakhi cannot fathom why Tanushree has brought “the filth of #MeToo to India”. “Was she in a coma for ten years? Why is she coming out with these allegations today? What does she want? Is she taking revenge for her career. Is all her money over?” shoots Rakhi, who is of the opinion that #MeToo campaign funded Tanushree financially to tarnish India’s image and reputation. Rakhi claims that Tanushree has received a lot of money from America to destroy Bollywood. “I am very angry that Bollywood and India’s reputations are being besmirched by Tanushree. She is a liar and she is being paid to lie. Somebody hired her in America to speak against India, and against Bollywood. Now, everybody is listening to her. Nobody in the media is ready to print the truth and she continues to lie. But who is behind this #MeToo campaign and who is investing the money? I really don’t know,” she says.
