OutFocus December 2014 | 页面 7

COVER STORY in Times of India dated September 13, 2014, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone had commented on the Shweta Basu Prasad case. Speaking to Indiatimes about Shweta, Deepika said that there is nothing wrong with it (her involvement in prostitution) if it was the only thing she could do to support herself and family. She said that it is unfair to make a scandal about it and rather than looking down upon her, it was time to get together and support her. and wrote, “My take on Shweta Prasad. Great actress (Iqbal). Sweet wonderful girl. Don’t judge her and leave her be for god’s sake!!!” Director Hansal Mehta went a step ahead and offered the her a role in his upcoming film too. He took to Twitter and wrote, “Stop posting pictures of Shweta. Put out the pictures of her wealthy clients and the pimp. Expose the scumbags not the soft target. I intend to offer Shweta Prasad a It was not just Deepika role in my next film. who came in support She was so good in of National Award Makdee.” winner Shweta Basu Prasad. Filmmakers Karan Johar and Sakshi wrote, “I’m at the Vishal Bhardwaj appalled also touched upon way the issue has this sensitive case. been dealt with by Filmmaker Nagesh the media. We, the Kukunoor who people, are so eager directed Shweta in to pass judgments Iqbal came to her and share opinions rescue on Twitter about her on social media, but none of us have walked the hard yards in her shoes... so, do we actually have a right to judge her yet? I don’t know her reasons and problems, and I don’t know any solutions either... All I know is that she is kept in a remand home and that she has apparently given a statement accepting it. At least she has been brave enough to accept it (as per the reports)”. There are many troubling aspects to this case. Firstly, was Shweta being arrested or was she being rescued? If arrested, should she not be formally charged with a crime? What was her crime? Soliciting for sex? Prostitution? But prostitution has two sides, a buyer and seller of sex. You can’t just arrest one side of the transaction. 07