Actress Renuka Shahane revealed that early in her career, a married producer offered to live with her for a monthly salary. When she refused, he took the same offer to someone else.

Renuka Shahane, wife of Ashutosh Rana and actress who has worked in films like "Hum Aapke Hain Koun," says a producer once offered to live with her for a monthly salary. According to her, this was when her career was just beginning. In an interview, Renuka was discussing women's safety. She also spoke about actress Raveena Tandon and how, despite coming from a film family, she had to be extremely vigilant and cautious on film sets.

Renuka Shahane made an objectionable offer by a producer

Speaking to Zoom, Renuka Shahane said, "A producer came to my house and started making offers. He told me he was married. He asked me about being the brand ambassador for a saree company. He said he would pay me a monthly salary if I stayed with him. My mother and I were both shocked." According to Renuka, she rejected the producer's offer, and then he went to someone else with the same offer. Renuka emphasized that it's not always easy for many in the film industry, as powerful people often create difficulties for those who oppose them. Renuka said, "Sometimes when you reject someone's offer, they become vengeful and tell others not to hire you. That's a risk. It didn't happen to me, but it can happen."

Renuka said that if a victim reports harassment, they often face retaliation. They are either removed from the project or harassed. Sometimes, their money is refused. "It's a club that comes together and tries to harass the victim even more," she says.

Renuka Shahane cited Raveena Tandon as an example

Renuka cited the example of Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon and explained how she too had to be cautious on film sets. According to Renuka, "Raveena was a big heroine and she came from the industry. But she told me that 'during the shoot, we had to change our rooms every day so that no one would know which room we were staying in and they would not come and create trouble for us.'" According to Renuka, often actors and producers would start knocking on the doors of actresses' rooms at night and no amount of caution would work.

#MeToo movement has weakened: Renuka Shahane

Renuka Shahane also says that the #MeToo campaign has weakened over time. Those accused have returned to work despite serious allegations. She says, "The problem is that after 5-6 years, the accused in the MeToo movement seem to have forgotten everything and are doing very well. If you accuse someone and there's no backup like a police case, people question you for the allegations not being proven."

Image Credit: Facebook@Renuka Shahane