Why are Bollywood actresses not naming and shaming their sexual assaulters and harassers as openly as their Hollywood counterparts? Actress Nimrat Kaur says before women are questioned about it, the legal system has to be watertight and give victims the support and confidence to be fearless.

Sexual abuse has been at the centre of attention in Hollywood as prominent names from the industry have come out and spoken against how men in power take advantage of women. It all began when several women accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

Asked why no names are taken against sexual offenders in Bollywood, Nimrat told IANS in recorded response from Mumbai: "In order for women to come out about harassment in work environments in India, the legal system has to be watertight and it has to be able to give the support and that absolute sense of fearlessness to any victim anywhere, who has gone through any kind of abuse or harassment."

She said "sexual harassment needs to be looked into at a deeper level before women are questioned as to why they don't come out with offences that have been made against them".

"We as a society need to get stronger and more solid and instil that fearlessness into women," she added.

Nimrat, who has featured in THE LUNCHBOX and AIRLIFT and will soon be seen in ALT Balaji's web series THE TEST CASE, also wonders why actresses and the film industry are the focus.

"One sees this at a basic level anywhere — that any woman who goes through any kind of trauma or any kind of abuse of a sexual nature, her first instinct is to let it go, slide it, forget it or who wants to get into it," she said, adding that "it is (because of) the embarrassment that the victim shies away from speaking against it".

"Just the circus around the noise something like this can create. The embarrassment this can bring to a family and how your name might be maligned… There is so much taboo around sexual offence that the person who has been offended… more than half the times they just shy away from coming out. Because they don't have faith in the system or legal support they get."

Nimrat, who has herself worked in American showbiz via series like 'Wayward Pines' and 'Homeland', stressed that for women to come out strongly about facing abuse, the mentality has to change at the "grassroot level".

"Women have to know that they are not at (a) disadvantage and there is no shame in coming out and calling someone out for an offence, and that they need to be called out.

"It is a confidence that has to be brought out within women from the system, government and legal point of view," added the 35-year-old, who plays the role of a strong woman being trained as a combat officer for the Indian Army in THE TEST CASE.

He has been named the 'Hottest Chef of America' by People magazine and has won a Michelin star for his restaurant in New York, but there was a time when people made fun of Vikas Khanna's accent and threatened to chop his fingers just because of his nationality.

The Michelin-starred celebrity chef looked back at his journey and recalled his struggles when he became part of "TED Talks India Nayi Soch" for an episode, a statement from the Star Plus channel said.

"In 2001, the owner of the hotel where I was working, used to put me down in every way possible by saying that I was good for nothing. At every point in time, he would scare me, insult me and make fun of my accent," Khanna said.

Recalling one incident, he said: "One day, just for fun, he spat in my coffee and everyone started laughing at me. Few days later, he got very drunk and picked a big knife to cut my fingers. It was that day that I ran out of that place and realised that my struggle isn't going to be easy."

The episode will air on Sunday.

He has been named the 'Hottest Chef of America' by People magazine and has won a Michelin star for his restaurant in New York, but there was a time when people made fun of Vikas Khanna's accent and threatened to chop his fingers just because of his nationality.

The Michelin-starred celebrity chef looked back at his journey and recalled his struggles when he became part of "TED Talks India Nayi Soch" for an episode, a statement from the Star Plus channel said.

"In 2001, the owner of the hotel where I was working, used to put me down in every way possible by saying that I was good for nothing. At every point in time, he would scare me, insult me and make fun of my accent," Khanna said.

Recalling one incident, he said: "One day, just for fun, he spat in my coffee and everyone started laughing at me. Few days later, he got very drunk and picked a big knife to cut my fingers. It was that day that I ran out of that place and realised that my struggle isn't going to be easy."

The episode will air on Sunday.

Filmmaker-actor and musician Farhan Akhtar says he will pay a tribute to music legends like Pink Floyd, David Bowie and The Beatles at a music festival in Ranthambore in Rajasthan.

The actor tweeted on Friday: "Off to Ranthambore Festival to play a tribute set to the bands, singer and songwriters that influenced my music sensibility. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull and more. Wish me luck. Music love, fun times, new set."

The three-day festival is scheduled to be held at the Nahargarh Palace from Friday to January 21 in Ranthambore.

Other artists who will be performing at the event include Fiddlers Green, Tritha Sinha, and Faran Ensemble. The festival will combine music, nature and well-being experiences in a setting that's extraordinary.

Filmmaker-actor and musician Farhan Akhtar says he will pay a tribute to music legends like Pink Floyd, David Bowie and The Beatles at a music festival in Ranthambore in Rajasthan.

The actor tweeted on Friday: "Off to Ranthambore Festival to play a tribute set to the bands, singer and songwriters that influenced my music sensibility. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Jethro Tull and more. Wish me luck. Music love, fun times, new set."

The three-day festival is scheduled to be held at the Nahargarh Palace from Friday to January 21 in Ranthambore.

Other artists who will be performing at the event include Fiddlers Green, Tritha Sinha, and Faran Ensemble. The festival will combine music, nature and well-being experiences in a setting that's extraordinary.

Veteran actor Nana Patekar says his upcoming Marathi movie AAPLA MANUS has given him a chance to explore a unique and complex character that he has not had a chance to portray in the language.

"After 'Natasamrat', I was waiting for something special to come my way, a character that wouldn't leave me even after the narration and with Maruti Nagargoje (the character), I found him," Nana said in a statement.

"He is a complex character, something that I have never played before in Marathi cinema. He is a man of few words, has a peculiar dialect and mannerism, a characteristic that makes him so unique," he added.

The Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Ajay Devgn FFilms production is directed by Satish Rajwade. It also features Sumeet Raghavan and Irawati Harshe, who play a young urban couple and share a complex relationship with the father. The unexpected death of the father marks the entry of Senior Inspector Maruti Nagargoje into their lives. Nagargoje turns their world upside down making them question their beliefs about life and family.

Nikhil Sane, Business Head – Viacom18 Motion Pictures Marathi and Colors Marathi, said: "In the last few years Marathi cinema has evolved in many ways, especially with its great ability to deal with diverse nature of stories reflecting our literary, social and cultural values.

"Most importantly, the response of Marathi audiences has been incredible which is clearly reflecting at the box office. 'Aapla Manus' has strong storytelling and stellar performances which will connect with our discerning audiences. I am confident that it is going to be the biggest Marathi film post, a treat for the Marathi audiences with none other than Nana Patekar as the protagonist."

It will release on February 9.

Veteran actor Nana Patekar says his upcoming Marathi movie AAPLA MANUS has given him a chance to explore a unique and complex character that he has not had a chance to portray in the language.

"After 'Natasamrat', I was waiting for something special to come my way, a character that wouldn't leave me even after the narration and with Maruti Nagargoje (the character), I found him," Nana said in a statement.

"He is a complex character, something that I have never played before in Marathi cinema. He is a man of few words, has a peculiar dialect and mannerism, a characteristic that makes him so unique," he added.

The Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Ajay Devgn FFilms production is directed by Satish Rajwade. It also features Sumeet Raghavan and Irawati Harshe, who play a young urban couple and share a complex relationship with the father. The unexpected death of the father marks the entry of Senior Inspector Maruti Nagargoje into their lives. Nagargoje turns their world upside down making them question their beliefs about life and family.

Nikhil Sane, Business Head – Viacom18 Motion Pictures Marathi and Colors Marathi, said: "In the last few years Marathi cinema has evolved in many ways, especially with its great ability to deal with diverse nature of stories reflecting our literary, social and cultural values.

"Most importantly, the response of Marathi audiences has been incredible which is clearly reflecting at the box office. 'Aapla Manus' has strong storytelling and stellar performances which will connect with our discerning audiences. I am confident that it is going to be the biggest Marathi film post, a treat for the Marathi audiences with none other than Nana Patekar as the protagonist."

It will release on February 9.