Fight your battles wisely, says Vishakha Singh after taking on Facebook abuser

June 16, 2015

Vishakha SinghMumbai, Jun 16: Vishakha Singh, actor and producer, shot to notoriety recently when she decided to not ignore a lecherous comment directed at her on social media. When she put up a photograph of herself on Facebook, one MD Mustakim Saifi responded with “Nice looking & nice boobs”. Singh saw red and cut him down to size with her own comment, in which she wrote (among other things),"Have the guts to say it on my face?? Else, get off my page." Soon after, Singh took this post, which had gone viral, offline. "Deleted the post that went viral," she wrote as explanation. "Not afraid of anyone but simply tired of unwanted negativity. A big thanks to all those who supported."

Currently, in Italy on a work trip, Singh took time out to speak to us about this incident.

As a woman celeb, what has been your experience on social media?

Being on social media is an occupational hazard. It's a great way to connect with the audience during film releases and feedback. However, the incessant harassment by a few people can make the experience unpleasant.

How and why did you decide to reply to this particular comment?

People assume that I woke up one fine day and just did it. No, I have had such experiences before. My social media team tries and blocks/report and delete such comments. But it's a mammoth task.

This particular person had been sending lewd messages to me in my inbox for a while. However, when he came commented on my wall; especially hiding behind a child's picture, I decided to reply. It was as simple as that. I have no idea why everyone else decided to get involved.

You said that you got negative publicity.

I am in Rome currently. Just the fact that I was trending in India was itself a shock to me! The next day I woke up to a picture being circulated that showed my official fan page liking a similar comment earlier. Fortunately my social media team informed me that it was not authentic. We wrote to websites that circulated it and asked if they had proof of the picture's authenticity. They did not. And hence most took it down. Some even wrote an apology.

Why didn't you take legal action?

I believe in conflict resolution. Simple emails were enough to resolve issues with certain websites. But yes, we have sent legal notices to some. Classic Threader community on FB was shut down after being served. We received an apology from them as well. Some others are also being served.

Do you think India needs better cyber laws to protect women in particular?

Yes, most certainly. Stricter cyber laws and a well defined code of ethics for online media as well.

With the Internet, harassment has moved online. How do you think women can tackle this?

I am lucky as I come from a privileged background. I have access to good lawyers and have a strong support system. However, for millions of Indian women this may not be the case. They are in survival mode and wish to avoid unnecessary confrontations. This is understandable. Until we reach a point where a stricter law is in place; stay strong, stay safe. And fight your battles wisely.

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Agencies
June 22,2020

Mumbai, Jun 22: After he recently took a dig at a Bollywood actor, without taking name, alleging power play and alleging that the music industry is run like the mafia, Sonu Nigam has now come down on T-Series chairman and MD, Bhushan Kumar.

Sonu has shared a new Instagram video on Monday morning, which he captioned: "Laaton ke mafia baaton se nahi maante (you cannot reason with the uncouth mafia with words)."

In the video, the singer says in Hindi: "Bhushan Kumar, ab toh tera naam lena hi padega mujhe. Aur ab tu tu ke layak hai. Tune galat admi se panga le liya (Bhushan Kumar, now I have to mention your name. And now, you deserve being addressed without respect. You have messed with the wrong person)."

Sonu Nigam is one of the finest singer of Indian film industry.
I can't believe bollywood Mafia's are targeting him 😣

T series Bhushan Kumar has support of Ajay devgn and Salman khan. And they are trying to end career of Sonu Nigam. 😣

I Support Sonu Nigam.#SonuNigam pic.twitter.com/MWwfrshcJZ

— Sic Mindus मसलु (@SarcasticFire) June 22, 2020
"Tu bhul gaya woh time jab tu mere ghar pe aake… ‘bhai bhai meri album kar do. Bhai 'Deewana' kar do. Bhai, Smita Thackeray se milwa do, Bal Thackeray se milwa do. Abu Salem se bacha lo. Abu Salem galiyaan de raha hai'... yaad hai na? Yaad hai ki nahi yeh sab cheezein? Main tujhe keh raha hoon mere muh mat lagna ab tu bas. (Do you remember the time when you used to come to my home requesting me… ‘brother record an album for me. Brother, record Deewana for me. Brother, introduce me to Smita Thackeray and Bal Thackeray. Save me from Abu Salem. Abu Salem is abusing me'… do you remember? Don't mess with me, I am warning you)."

"Marina Cover yaad hai na? Woh kyon boli, woh kyon back out kiya yeh mujhe nahi pata. Media ko pata hai mafia kis tarah function karta hai. Uska video mere paas padha hai. Ab agar tune mere se panga liya, toh woh video main apni YouTube channel mein dal dunga. Samjha? Mere mooh mat lagna (Do you remember Marina Cover? I don't know no why they spoke and why they backed out, but media knows how the mafia functions. I still have that video with me. Now if you mess with me, I will upload that video on my YouTube channel. So don't mess with me)."

In a recent video posted on Instagram, Sonu Nigam had appealed to music companies (without taking names) to be a little kind towards newcomer artistes, saying otherwise more people will commit suicide. He had mentioned in his previous video that currently two companies rule the music industry. He had also claimed falling prey to power play by a Bollywood actor.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Los Angeles, Jan 9: Actors Salma Hayek and Tiffany Haddish are hopeful about the future for women in Hollywood and now cinema is making films about women because the audience was "neglected".

The duo along with Rose Byrne star in Like a Boss, a comedy directed by Miguel Arteta, which follows best friends Mia and Mel (Haddish and Byrne) who join forces to run their own boutique cosmetics company.

When the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the beauty industry (Hayek) tempts them, their lifelong bond - and their business - is put in jeopardy.

Hayek said she is happy with the increase in female-driven films in Hollywood.

"We're on the right path. And we're not going to stop," the actor told Variety.

"What I can tell you is that a lot more women are directing and acting and writing and producing. And there are a lot more movies made about women and for women because the audience was neglected, she said.

She was speaking at the premiere of the film in New York.

Haddish added that the mantle for change shouldn't be left to the traditional decision-makers.

To get things, one has to sometimes make noise, the actor-author said.

"It's about us putting in the work and creating the projects and creating the opportunities in order to do those things to make it better. I sit back and I listen to people talk sometimes, saying, 'They're not letting us; they're not giving it to us.' Why do we have to ask permission? Why can't we just start putting it together? If they want to come on board with it, come on board. And if not, oh well," Haddish said.

"I'm about creating an opportunity. People say I'm loud and obnoxious, but sometimes it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil and gets things done," she added.

The comedy comes on the heels of a year gone by in cinema that featured female protagonists in films like Little Women and Captain Marvel.

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News Network
February 5,2020

Chennai, Feb 5: The popular cine actor Rajinikanth has defended the Union Government on the Citizenship Amendment Act, saying it will not affect the Indian Muslims.

In a brief interaction with reporters this morning in Chennai, the matinee idol said if the Muslims are affected by the CAA, he would be at the forefront in their defence. He asked how will the legislation affect the Indian Muslims when they chose to stay back in the country to make it their motherland. Mr Rajinikanth also supported the National Population Register saying it has been in force even in the past.

On the NRC, Mr Rajinikanth said the Government has already made it clear that its nationwide rollout has not been even discussed so far. Mr Rajinikanth is nourishing political ambitions and has made it clear that he would plunge into politics ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections in the state which is due in 2021.

Comments

Arif
 - 
Wednesday, 5 Feb 2020

This law violates the fundamentals of the Indian constitution. Whey they are seeing the Muslims angle first?

 

It looks that they are misinforming the public by diverting into a Muslim only issue. If that was the case, why so many non-Muslims are protesting? I looks like Rajini has back-end support to the center's CAA move.

 

Suresh SS
 - 
Wednesday, 5 Feb 2020

He is another crack, hamare desh main pagal logon ki kami nahi

Wellwisher
 - 
Wednesday, 5 Feb 2020

What can expect from ex KSRTC bus conductor

 

 
clear sign of ZERO knowedge with Indian constitution.

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