'Why can't we admire a woman's body?'

DC | Lipika Varma | 4 hours 39 min ago

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Sudhir Mishra's 'Inkaar' starring Arjun Rampal and Chitrangada Singh deals with the extremely pertinent topic of "sexual harassment" at workplaces and Rampal, who had been labelled one of the sexiest men in India much before the likes of Hrithik Roshan entered the scene, has some definite views on the topic.

"When the media labels me as 'hot' and 'sexy', what do I say? Should I take it in my stride or get angry? I think I need to take it as a compliment. Similarly, in this film when women are labelled 'sexy' and 'hot', what should their reaction be? Should it be considered vulgar or be taken lightly?

These are the questions our film raises," says Rampal.

He says that the topic of sexual harassment is open to debate. "The film depicts how a woman who goes for an interview or to meet a client, unbuttons the top two buttons of her shirt... now should this not attract the onlooker? If his eyes are distracted then what do you feel?

Do you consider this to be sexual harassment? The film raises these questions on a different level. It is, indeed, good to debate on the topic. Should merely staring at the unbuttoned shirt of a female be considered sexual harassment?" asks Rampal.

With the entire country boiling over the Delhi gangrape and the attitude of the police and some politicians that women bring it on to themselves, Inkaar's storyline might heat up matters further.

"Whether a woman has the right to attract a man and then reject his advances... how far is this right or wrong on the part of a woman... we need to debate on this issue. I think the film's script will surely draw the audiences as it has been depicted in a meaningful manner," says Rampal.

Continuing to tread on dangerous ground, he adds, "If a man goes ahead despite the woman's rejection then should it be treated as violating certain norms?

"Should a woman have the privilege of showing her legs, being attired in a revealing dress in an office?

And if she does, does a man have the right to misbehave with her and if he does, is it right? Why can't a man admire a woman's beauty without lusting after her? If his intentions are good then it matters little," he concludes.