It all started when comedienne Mallika Dua spoke out against Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar for making a sexual remark.
A video leaked from the sets of the television show 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge' revealed Akshay as saying, "Mallikaji aap bell bajao, main apkobajata hoon (You ring the bell, I will bang you)". Mallika took to social media to voice her indignation about the entire incident and put forth her views in the form of an open letter to the star.
Long story short, while she found support with many on the topic of work sexism, others called it a publicity stunt. A few even advised her to overlook it as a funny statement. "No matter what the context was, a superstar with such a huge following should have been careful about the words he says, especially to a female colleague," says Deepa Mohan, a content writer. "Irrespective of the characters she has portrayed in her videos, Mallika is an artiste at the end of the day and should be respected."
An HR professional, Rupa Subramanian, feels that there should be guidelines that define how one should behave with colleagues in a work environment. "People should speak up when they face instances like these. Though the gender discrimination has reduced a lot, sexism at the workplace still exists. Respecting each other at work and making the other person feel comfortable is crucial in every setting."
The timing of Mallika's response has raised quite a few eyebrows too. It was quite a few days after the incident that the YouTube comic star tweeted about the need for humour to be limitless but not at the cost of making her uncomfortable at work. Many have since suspected her of doing so to settle scores with the TV channel for firing her.
Irin Samuel, a home baker, says, "I've been following her work for a few years now and I find her hilarious. She has done some bold roles which many trolls have targeted her for. However, this does seem like a publicity stunt and maybe she could have approached it differently. Then again, making anyone feel uncomfortable is not acceptable. I too have faced workplace sexism when I worked for a corporate company. But I kept quiet and went back to work like generally many women do."
About the need to combine sensitivity with comedy, Tanvi Pinjarkar, stylist and photographer, says, "Comedy is about timing and content but importantly, cautiousness. Being cautious about other's sentiments and personal space is imperative and this should be followed by both men and women."
A video leaked from the sets of the television show 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge' revealed Akshay as saying, "Mallikaji aap bell bajao, main apkobajata hoon (You ring the bell, I will bang you)". Mallika took to social media to voice her indignation about the entire incident and put forth her views in the form of an open letter to the star.
Long story short, while she found support with many on the topic of work sexism, others called it a publicity stunt. A few even advised her to overlook it as a funny statement. "No matter what the context was, a superstar with such a huge following should have been careful about the words he says, especially to a female colleague," says Deepa Mohan, a content writer. "Irrespective of the characters she has portrayed in her videos, Mallika is an artiste at the end of the day and should be respected."
An HR professional, Rupa Subramanian, feels that there should be guidelines that define how one should behave with colleagues in a work environment. "People should speak up when they face instances like these. Though the gender discrimination has reduced a lot, sexism at the workplace still exists. Respecting each other at work and making the other person feel comfortable is crucial in every setting."
The timing of Mallika's response has raised quite a few eyebrows too. It was quite a few days after the incident that the YouTube comic star tweeted about the need for humour to be limitless but not at the cost of making her uncomfortable at work. Many have since suspected her of doing so to settle scores with the TV channel for firing her.
Irin Samuel, a home baker, says, "I've been following her work for a few years now and I find her hilarious. She has done some bold roles which many trolls have targeted her for. However, this does seem like a publicity stunt and maybe she could have approached it differently. Then again, making anyone feel uncomfortable is not acceptable. I too have faced workplace sexism when I worked for a corporate company. But I kept quiet and went back to work like generally many women do."
About the need to combine sensitivity with comedy, Tanvi Pinjarkar, stylist and photographer, says, "Comedy is about timing and content but importantly, cautiousness. Being cautious about other's sentiments and personal space is imperative and this should be followed by both men and women."
It all started when comedienne Mallika Dua spoke out against Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar for making a sexual remark.
A video leaked from the sets of the television show 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’ revealed Akshay as saying, "Mallikaji aap bell bajao, main apkobajata hoon (You ring the bell, I will bang you)”. Mallika took to social media to voice her indignation about the entire incident and put forth her views in the form of an open letter to the star.
Long story short, while she found support with many on the topic of work sexism, others called it a publicity stunt. A few even advised her to overlook it as a funny statement. "No matter what the context was, a superstar with such a huge following should have been careful about the words he says, especially to a female colleague,” says Deepa Mohan, a content writer. "Irrespective of the characters she has portrayed in her videos, Mallika is an artiste at the end of the day and should be respected.”
An HR professional, Rupa Subramanian, feels that there should be guidelines that define how one should behave with colleagues in a work environment. "People should speak up when they face instances like these. Though the gender discrimination has reduced a lot, sexism at the workplace still exists. Respecting each other at work and making the other person feel comfortable is crucial in every setting.”
The timing of Mallika’s response has raised quite a few eyebrows too. It was quite a few days after the incident that the YouTube comic star tweeted about the need for humour to be limitless but not at the cost of making her uncomfortable at work. Many have since suspected her of doing so to settle scores with the TV channel for firing her.
Irin Samuel, a home baker, says, "I’ve been following her work for a few years now and I find her hilarious. She has done some bold roles which many trolls have targeted her for. However, this does seem like a publicity stunt and maybe she could have approached it differently. Then again, making anyone feel uncomfortable is not acceptable. I too have faced workplace sexism when I worked for a corporate company. But I kept quiet and went back to work like generally many women do.”
About the need to combine sensitivity with comedy, Tanvi Pinjarkar, stylist and photographer, says, "Comedy is about timing and content but importantly, cautiousness. Being cautious about other’s sentiments and personal space is imperative and this should be followed by both men and women.”
A video leaked from the sets of the television show 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge’ revealed Akshay as saying, "Mallikaji aap bell bajao, main apkobajata hoon (You ring the bell, I will bang you)”. Mallika took to social media to voice her indignation about the entire incident and put forth her views in the form of an open letter to the star.
Long story short, while she found support with many on the topic of work sexism, others called it a publicity stunt. A few even advised her to overlook it as a funny statement. "No matter what the context was, a superstar with such a huge following should have been careful about the words he says, especially to a female colleague,” says Deepa Mohan, a content writer. "Irrespective of the characters she has portrayed in her videos, Mallika is an artiste at the end of the day and should be respected.”
An HR professional, Rupa Subramanian, feels that there should be guidelines that define how one should behave with colleagues in a work environment. "People should speak up when they face instances like these. Though the gender discrimination has reduced a lot, sexism at the workplace still exists. Respecting each other at work and making the other person feel comfortable is crucial in every setting.”
The timing of Mallika’s response has raised quite a few eyebrows too. It was quite a few days after the incident that the YouTube comic star tweeted about the need for humour to be limitless but not at the cost of making her uncomfortable at work. Many have since suspected her of doing so to settle scores with the TV channel for firing her.
Irin Samuel, a home baker, says, "I’ve been following her work for a few years now and I find her hilarious. She has done some bold roles which many trolls have targeted her for. However, this does seem like a publicity stunt and maybe she could have approached it differently. Then again, making anyone feel uncomfortable is not acceptable. I too have faced workplace sexism when I worked for a corporate company. But I kept quiet and went back to work like generally many women do.”
About the need to combine sensitivity with comedy, Tanvi Pinjarkar, stylist and photographer, says, "Comedy is about timing and content but importantly, cautiousness. Being cautious about other’s sentiments and personal space is imperative and this should be followed by both men and women.”