National Award-winning film editor and screenplay writer Apurva Asrani highlights the hypocrisy in Indian society over the idea of nudity, comparing the news around actors Milind Soman and Poonam Pandey. On Wednesday, Milind posted a picture of himself running nude on a Goa beach, on the occasion of his 55th birthday. The post was flooded with appreciation, and some memes in good-natured jest. On the other hand, an FIR was filed against Poonam for shooting an ‘obscene video’ on a Goa beach recently.
Apurva shared pictures of both actors, and tweeted, "#PoonamPandey & #MilindSoman both stripped down to their birthday suits in #Goa recently. Pandey partly, Soman completely. Pandey is in legal trouble--for obscenity. Soman is being lauded for his fit body at age 55. I guess we are kinder to our nude men than to our nude women."
#PoonamPandey & #MilindSoman both stripped down to their birthday suits in #Goa recently. Pandey partly, Soman completely. Pandey is in legal trouble--for obscenity. Soman is being lauded for his fit body at age 55. I guess we are kinder to our nude men than to our nude women. pic.twitter.com/qQ9UFQIYXJ
— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) November 4, 2020
RECOMMENDED READ: BREAKING: Poonam Pandey arrested by Goa Police in obscene video shoot case
Milind shared the image and wrote, "Happy birthday to me! 55 and running."
Happy birthday to me
.
.
.
55 and running ! @5Earthy pic.twitter.com/TGoLFQxmui— Milind Usha Soman (@milindrunning) November 4, 2020
On the other hand, a police inspector was suspended on Thursday following outrage over actor Poonam's controversial photoshoot at a restricted dam site in South Goa.
Photos from the provocative shoot featuring Pandey, held at the Chapoli dam in Canacona sub district, had gone viral earlier this week, which sparked protests in the area, with ruling and opposition party members staging a protest on Thursday, demanding action against police officials permitting the shoot.
On Wednesday, police also filed a First Information Report, first against unknown persons and then against Poonam Pandey under section 294 (obscenity) of the Indian Penal Code, after Goa Police received nearly half a dozen written complaints regarding the controversial photo shoot.
However, questioning the double standards, Twitter users said feminism was important. Another pointed out that the woman’s wing of a party filed the case against Pandey and not against Soman, saying, “This is what we mean when we say women are gatekeepers of patriarchy.” Check out some reactions of netizens below:
This! https://t.co/LvRDSQU8rO
— Natasha (@nuts2406) November 5, 2020
So unfair. You have Milind Soman running Au Naturel and then turn prude at Poonam Pandey. Gender discrimination https://t.co/uHTD25GF1K
— Prosenjit Datta (@ProsaicView) November 5, 2020
It is not my case to approve/disapprove either but we should pause and think how hypocritical we are as a society!!!
On the same day we react differently to two different images.
Skin show by men is OK but by women
— Amitabha Bandyopadhy (@abandopa) November 4, 2020
Milind Soman kare toh cool, Poonam Pandey kare toh police complaint!!
Is this feminism https://t.co/NgLrVctuz5 pic.twitter.com/3YNDr51Ds6
— . (@harshaag_15) November 4, 2020
Time to reflect. Even the most liberal and forward thinking of us need to pause and understand what #MalePrivilege really is. Call out your own double standards. Thats the first step. #MilindSonam #PoonamPandey
— Arfi Lamba (@arfilamba) November 5, 2020
@harshaag_15 Milind Soman applauded for the same for which FIR is filed against Poonam Pandey
This is why Feminism is important
— imravikumar (@imrichie13) November 5, 2020
(Source: Twitter/Instagram)
