Bollywood actor Mouni Roy has spoken out about an alleged incident of harassment during a public event in Karnal, Haryana, describing the experience as humiliating and distressing.
The actor shared her account through a series of Instagram Stories, urging authorities and event organisers to take stronger action to ensure artists’ safety.
‘Unacceptable Behaviour,’ Says Actor
According to Mouni, the incident occurred as she walked toward the stage to begin her performance. She alleged that several male attendees, including elderly men, touched her waist under the pretext of taking photographs.
“Didn’t like it when I asked them to remove their hands,” she wrote, adding that her objection was met with hostility rather than support.
Harassment Continued On Stage
Mouni said the situation escalated after she reached the stage, where two men standing at the front allegedly made lewd comments, obscene gestures, and resorted to name-calling. She claimed that even after she politely gestured for them to stop, the behaviour continued.
“They started throwing roses at me,” she said, adding that she briefly attempted to leave the stage mid-performance but returned to complete her act.
The actor also expressed disappointment that neither organisers nor family members intervened to remove the individuals from the front rows.
Concern for Women in the Industry
Despite feeling overwhelmed, Mouni completed her performance. She later reflected on the broader implications of the incident, particularly for women who are new to the entertainment industry.
“If someone like me has to go through this, I can only imagine what new girls starting out must face,” she wrote, describing herself as humiliated and traumatised. She called on authorities to take action against what she termed intolerable behaviour.
‘We Are Artists, Not Objects’
In another post, Mouni highlighted additional concerns, alleging that the stage was elevated and that some men were recording videos from inappropriate angles. She said those who tried to stop them were verbally abused.
“We go to these events to add joy to someone’s celebration. We are their guests—and they harass us,” she wrote, expressing anguish over what she described as entitlement and lack of accountability.
Emphasising dignity and respect, she added that artists are simply trying to earn an honest living through their craft, and questioned how such behaviour would be perceived if directed at women in the offenders’ own families.
On the Work Front
Mouni Roy was last seen in The Bhootnii alongside Sanjay Dutt and Sunny Singh. She later featured in the espionage thriller Salakaar, which released on OTT platforms.
