Netizens are not happy about alleged sexual harasser Sajid Khan’s inclusion in Bigg Boss 16
Indian reality show Bigg Boss has proven to be a platform that brings new and old faces together in front of the masses with challenges and tasks that either creates a bond or sets them apart. This time for season 16, netizens have united online to call out show creators for inviting Sajid Khan, film director, as a contestant amid several sexual assault allegations made against him.
On Saturday, Sajid entered the house during the grand premiere. According to *Bollywood Hungama*, he said, “For the past four years, I’ve been at home and wasn’t getting that many work opportunities. So when I was invited by Colors, I felt that it’s time I should enter the house and learn more about myself.”
The director said he has seen a lot of ups and downs in life and the last four years, he was at a great low. “You’ve only experienced one drop, the rest are ups,” Salman interjected. “I experienced one great drop,” replied the Housefull director.
He continued, “There is a saying, ‘failure destroys people’, but in my case success destroyed me. I had become very arrogant, had back-to-back three hits so I thought I had become infallible, I just couldn’t go wrong with a film. I was issuing arrogant statements, God gave me one tight slap, Himmatwala flopped. [I] got a little humble, got another slap and after Humshakals came, I hid my face.”
Netizens are not okay with the inclusion of an alleged sexual abuser to the popular show.
One Twitter user pointed out that influential men keeping getting away with things.
And another said anyone who watches the show is extending support to domestic abusers in the house at some level.
Singer Sona Mohapatra joined netizens objecting to Sajid’s appearance in the latest season. She said Indian TV channels are a “depraved and sad lot”.
The Heyy Babyy director was called out for sexual harassment by women from the film industry in 2018. He was told he “deserved severe punishment” in a statement by Ashoke Pandit, president of Indian Film & TV Directors’ Association. The Association suspended him for a year in 2019.
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