Filmmaker Karan Johar shared his disappointment and shock over the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case. The director posted a long note on his Instagram stories, expressing his disgust with the condition of women’s safety in India. He began his note by mentioning that he had been trying to comment on the case for some time now, and finally managed to build the courage to speak.
Karan wrote how the case represents the biggest failure of our country, and it will have “repercussions”. He highlighted that it is ironic for the citizens of the country to celebrate 78 years of Independence when women are still not free in a free nation.
He wrote, “For the past few days, I have been trying to express my thoughts on this heinous, unpardonable crime… the biggest human failure to protect women… I still don’t have the words… how can any written word describe this atrocity… words do matter but action and the authorities waking up to the fact that if justice is not served severely, this will be the end of us!!! (sic).”
KJo, as he is popularly called, added that it’s heartbreaking to realise the kinds of atrocities that women face every day in the country. He said, “We failed our women and this failure will have karmic repercussions… on all of US… the big massive irony of Independence for every living woman in our country! This breaks my heart and makes me sick to the core… (sic).”
Karan joined his fellow filmmakers and actors to speak on the matter. Earlier, as India celebrated its Independence Day, many Bollywood stars made emotional social media posts, expressing their anger and dismay at the incident.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher shared a video on Instagram on Friday, demanding justice in the case. He shared the details of the case and highlighted how the victim was the only daughter in the family and the nation failed to protect her. Kher demanded public capital punishment for the rapist and said “iski saza sirf maut hai, aur koi saza nahi hai (sic).”
Bhumi Pednekar, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Preity Zinta, Dia Mirza, Navya Nanda, Kangana Ranaut, Sara Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Kriti Sanon, Samantha and Janhvi Kapoor, among other celebs also raised their voices against crimes against women via social media posts.
On August 9, Friday, a 31-year-old resident doctor was raped, throttled and smothered to death at a government-run RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. She was found unclothed with multiple injuries on her body. The case triggered a nation-wide protest by doctors and various hospitals. On August 13, Tuesday, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
