Mumbai, Feb 25 Actor Konkona Sen Sharma, who plays a UK doctor facing allegations of workplace sexual harassment in her new film "Accused", believes that while some positive outcomes have emerged from the #MeToo movement, many perpetrators continue to thrive.
"Accused", directed by Anubhuti Kashyap and also starring Pratibha Ranta from the film "Laapataa Ladies", tells the story of a same-sex married couple whose lives are disrupted by a scandal.
Sen Sharma, a renowned doctor in London, is accused by her colleagues at the hospital of sexual misconduct. As scrutiny intensifies and public opinion hardens, the film explores the impact this has on her closest relationships and how quickly perceptions can take hold when certainty is uncertain.
The actress stated that the landmark Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed widespread harassment in the industry, was a significant outcome of the movement, but many perpetrators did not face consequences.
"It's a very unfortunate situation. We all know this is the reality, we know who has been accused, and we can see many of them succeeding. A lot of this depends on us, on all of us as a society, who we choose to work with, whose work we want to see, and how much opportunity we give these people," Sen Sharma told
"The Hema committee has brought out a report; how many people have actually read it, and how widely has it been circulated? While some good things may have come out of it, in terms of infrastructure and the establishment of committees and structures on film sets or in any work environment, ultimately, a lot depends on us, and how we deal with it as a society," the actress added.
Kashyap said they also showed the film to a few key figures in the movement in India to get their feedback. She hopes the film will continue the dialogue that the movement started.
"Most of them liked the film and appreciated it, but it was very difficult for them to watch because something good is happening there (in the film). Hopefully, this film will give more people the courage to continue the movement," Kashyap said.
The director said the essential change brought about by the #MeToo movement was the implementation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) and better infrastructure on film sets.
"Some good things have happened because some of these structures have been put in place. Some people have found the courage to repeatedly share their stories, which is very difficult. So, that's the good thing. Unfortunately, it has somewhat fizzled out. But I hope the good continues and grows," Kashyap said.
Rannta, who gained fame with her roles in "Laapataa Ladies" and "Heeramandi", praised the "courage" of the survivors to share their stories.
"It really takes a lot for you to come forward when something has happened to you, and there are structures that have helped people come forward and speak about what they have felt, which is good," she said.
Kashyap said what makes their film, produced by Dharma, unique is that the accused is a woman. The film premieres on Netflix on February 27.
The core concept of "Accused" originated within the Netflix India creative team, and Kashyap joined the project later, where she developed the story with writers Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani.
"We've never seen a film on a woman accused of sexual misconduct, so we thought why not make it?" the director said, adding that the team conducted extensive research on the subject through reports from the UK and US governments.
She said their findings revealed that while 70 per cent of perpetrators are men, there are also a significant number of cases involving women as accused parties in workplaces.
"This global data led the team to base the film's setting in the UK. Then, we found that we hadn't heard enough stories from the perspective of the accused, or we didn't know enough about what they go through, what damage it causes, or how it affects their lives. So, it all started from there."
Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director, Original Films, Netflix India, called "Accused" a deeply thought-provoking film.
"The film examines how suspicion can fracture relationships and blur the lines between perception and reality. Anubhuti Kashyap brings remarkable sensitivity and restraint to this complex subject. Led by compelling performances from Konkona Sen Sharma and Pratibha Ranta, and shaped by nuanced writing from Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani, 'Accused' reflects the kind of layered, character-driven storytelling that Netflix continues to champion," she said.
