It’s 2025, and yet the narrative that women are somehow responsible for the violence inflicted upon them refuses to die. And what makes it even worse is when some women themselves echo these age-old beliefs. They continue to question the dignity of their community when they should be uplifting each other. Recently, Bollywood actor and current Bigg Boss 19 contestant Kunickaa Sadanand sparked outrage by claiming that some women provoke men to harass them sexually. Here’s what Kunickaa said.

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“Kahin na kahin ladki ki taraf se bhi ek ishaara hota hai”

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In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Kunickaa Sadanand recalled how it was difficult for women to enter the film industry in her time. She appreciated that actors like Karisma Kapoor and Raveena Tandon opened more opportunities for women to work in movies. This has also compelled makers to take measures that ensure the safety of women on set. But the discourse suddenly shifted to whether sexual violence in Bollywood. To this, Kunickaa remarked that rapes don’t happen in the Bollywood industry. She said, “Kahin na kahin ladki ki taraf se bhi ek ishaara hota hai,” implying that women provoke men to harass them. Here’s what Kunickaa said to support her claim.

She enacted how a woman, with a firm posture, smile and tone, can ask a producer for work opportunities. Kunickaa then imitated the women who use “coquetry” to get work, which gives a signal to men to make sexual advances towards them. Agreeing to this, Siddharth too gestured how some women say, “Sir, aapka collar theek nahin hai, theek kardu kya collar…” Both Kunickaa and Siddharth laughed at this, claiming that women seduce directors to get work in the film industry. “I have never heard anyone being raped who has been clear and straightforward,” Kunickaa said.

Kunickaa’s Story Contradicts Her Own Claims

In the same interview, the actor spoke about an incident when she was working at Mehboob Studios for a film. Kunickaa said that the producer of the film conspired with the crew to leave her alone in the vanity van. He then entered the van and cornered her to abuse her sexually. Kunickaa revealed that she got too nervous and started thinking, “Oh god, agar ye naraaz ho jayega toh film se nikaal dega. Oh god, ye kya karne wala hai? Oh god, badnaami hogi.” But she tried to calm herself down and protect herself. Kunickaa dared to challenge the man, and said, “Don’t you dare, I’ll crush your balls and…” He left her vanity van, and she was safe.

This horrific incident proves that it’s never a woman provoking a man to harass her in any way. In this case, Kunickaa did not even attempt to call him to her vanity van, but even then, this happened to her. So, how is her claim even valid that women invite sexual harassment?

How people reacted to Kunickaa Sadanand’s remarks

Kunickaa’s claim of women seducing their way into Bollywood left the internet divided. On one side, some people, including women, supported her comments, saying, “She stated facts.” On the other side, people called out her fake feminism. Here’s how people reacted to her awful remarks against women.

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Such comments dangerously fuel victim-blaming and dilute conversations around rape cases against women. This split reaction doesn’t just show the stark differences in opinion. It reflects the deeply ingrained misogyny of certain people, including Kunickaa, who stand by narratives that harm other women.

Kunickaa Sadanand’s other controversial remarks in Bigg Boss 19

The actor is also a reputed lawyer who proudly identifies as a feminist. But is she? In one of the recent episodes of Bigg Boss 19, Kunickaa Sadanand called out her fellow contestant, Tanya Mittal, for not being raised right by her mother. She said this in the context that Tanya didn’t know how to do household chores. This compelled Gaurav Khanna, another contestant, to defend Tanya in front of Kunickaa. Instead of realising her mistake and apologising, Kunickaa called Gaurav a “janaani“. People often use this term in a derogatory sense for men who portray “feminine traits”.

Such incidents reflect the problematic nature of our society. If we want safer spaces in Bollywood and beyond, we need to stop normalising such narratives that desensitise the audience towards violence against women.

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