Choreographer Saroj Khan opened a can of some really dirty worms when she talked about the casting couch practice prevalent in the Bollywood to a news channel. She actually defended the practice saying that it has been going on from time immemorial and that it happens everywhere, so why only singling the film industry? Saroj Khan claimed that no one is getting raped and the girls are getting work.

This is her statement, "Can I tell you one thing? This has been going on since the beginning of time. It hasn't started now. Someone or the other tries to take advantage of every other girl. The government's people do it too. Then why are you after the film industry? It provides livelihood at lead. Does not rape and leave you. It depends upon the girl, what she wants to do. If you don't want to fall in wrong hands, you won't. If you have art, then why would you sell yourself? Don't take film industry's name, it is everything for us."

Later, she retracted her statement, and apologised for saying it. But the damage has been done. It was definitely a hit to the #MeToo campaign which was slowly finding its legs in the Indian cinema industry. Saroj Khan's defense of casting couch is wrong in many ways. Sure, victims may have agreed to the practice in lieu of a good role, but why has Saroj Khan not questioned the very basis of why this is happening in the first place? In her statement, she has placed the blame on the victim and not once did she blame the perpetrators.

Moreover,  she has given the fire to many of the Hindutva trolls to attack strong feminist actresses like Swara Bhasker, Sonam Kapoor, Huma Qureshi. These actress have been a thorn in their eyes, for their campaign to get justice for the Kathua and Unnao rape victims. Now that Saroj Khan has spoken about casting couch, the trolls are asking the actresses to clean their courtyard first before talking about others.

Strangely, these trolls find defending crimes like rapes okay as long as their 'culture' is protected. Just a reminder to them, Casting couches and rapes are two different things, though they are all about sexual harassment.

That said, the silence of Bollywood celebs over Saroj Khan's statements is unnerving and that has emboldened the trolls, who feel that Saroj Khan has just exposed the hypocrisy of the industry. Speak up, Bollywood! Now is the time for you to lead the change!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 24, 2018 01:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).