Earlier today the spirited Tamil actress Nithya Menen made news when she “jokingly” stopped director Mysskin from “squishing” her at the trailer launch of her upcoming film Kadhalikka Neramillai in Chennai .
Producer Prerna Arora feels Ms Menen’s no-touch stance was no joke. “Men in the industry find every excuse to get physically close to women. It is considered very trendy to cuddle up to women at press meets and trailer launches.”
Prerna says she has herself being a victim of this “touchy feely” culture. “Men should stop behaving as pseudo-liberals at filmy events. These are the same men who wouldn’t want their womenfolk to be even looked at by men. Suddenly when they are at a public event they feel it is their birthright to put their arms on the heroine’s shoulder.”
Prerna describes this as predatory behaviour. “I want to advocate a hands-off policy in our film industry. All ‘squishing’ activities should be avoided. On my sets there are strict intimacy policies.”
Prerna is all praise for Nithya Menen. “She is one actress who speaks her mind even at the risk of causing offence. We women often condone men for not respecting borders as we don’t want to offend them.”
