Only films can bail out Shweta Basu

Mumbai: Now it’s Sekhar Kammula, the only Tollywood filmmaker, who has posted on Twitter his support for actor Shweta Basu. In fact his post appreciates the Mumbai film fraternity for immediately issuing a statement showing their solidarity for the actor and hitting out at the media for reporting her case as a gossip scandal. Excellent lip service. Beyond tweeting or signing a joint statement, they have nothing more to say. When we tried to contact Sekhar Kamula and Elahe Hiptoola, (one of the signatories) if they had any plans to help Shweta  with a good movie role, since they all have said she is a brilliant actress both had their phones switched off, no response to messages either.

Many others, too, in the industry are ready with moral lectures and sympathy for Shweta Basu. But no one has offered any concrete help in terms of resurrecting her career. Agrees Bollywood filmmaker Vikarm Bhatt. “I wish filmmakers would step forward and help Shweta resurrect her career as an actor. If I have a role for her, I wouldn’t hesitate to cast her. At this moment, bailing her out of the present situation is the need of the hour. It will be humane if the industry taps her potential as an actor.”

Says Raj Nidimoru, director of Shor in the City, Go Goa Gone, Happy Ending and producer of the Tollywood film D for Dopidi. “Everybody is trying to support her in the moral sense. We cannot offer her roles just because she is in some problem. It’s like calling someone in a problem and asking if he or she needs money. Now it is all up to Shweta on what she plans to do next and if she would like to continue in films. Once out of the problem, since the film fraternity says she is a talented actor, she should start networking all over again and should approach production houses, meet filmmakers and attend auditions. She hasn’t lost anything. As of now, considering the situation, all we can do is give her a feeling of solidarity.”

The problem of prostitution is not only in the film industry, it is spread to all the corners of the world. I see no reason why this incident is being covered so extensively. Regarding Shweta’s future career, if she has the talent, she can surely make a comeback. — D. Suresh Babu, Filmmaker

Hats off to the Bollywood filmmakers and technicians who have come forward in support of Shweta. She is a very talented actor and it will just take one movie for her to bounce back strongly. — Nandini Reddy, Director of Ala Modalaindi

What I want to emphasise is that every actress goes through several problems like this. But there are several other options like TV and character roles in films, so why can’t one opt for them? Stooping to the level of selling yourself is not acceptable. What’s more disturbing is that how could her parents allow something like this. I would blame her parents for her plight. — Khushboo Actor, Politician