‘Sajid Khan flashed his private part asking me if I want to touch it’, Sherlyn Chopra recalls her harrowing incident with the Bigg Boss 16 contestant

Actress and celebrity Sherlyn Chopra is miffed with the makers of reality television show 'Bigg Boss' for including film director Sajid Khan, who was embroiled in the #MeToo controversy in India, back in 2018. However, she has clarified that she just wants to make her voice heard along with several other women, who are the victims to Sajid's sexual misconduct. The actress held a press conference, where she narrated the harrowing incident she faced with the filmmaker.

Mujhe zor ka jhatka laga when I got to know the Bigg Boss makers invited Sajid Khan to stay inside the house. This wasn’t expected from Bigg Boss and also Salman Khan.

This goes back to 2005 when my father passed away. It was in April. Sajid Khan had called me to his house for a story narration. At that point of time, I wasn’t aware of what kind of a ghatiya insaan he is. I went there thinking he is Farah Khan’s brother. I wanted to work with him and do a good film. But during the narration, he suddenly showed his private part and asked me ‘Do you want to touch it? Feel it? How much would you rate is from 1-10?’

I told him about losing my father and instead of sympathizing, he kept pestering me to touch him, feel him and rate him. I was shocked. I was in my late teens that time, who just lost her father. I didn’t know who to go to. I thought of going to Farah Khan but wasn’t confident enough. I thought it to be my mistake that had I not gone there, the incident wouldn’t have happened. For many years, I blamed myself for the incident. Then in 2018, during the #MeToo movement, I realised there were so many women, who were his victims. I realised that he is a habitual molester and predator. Now I am seeing this person inside the Bigg Boss house. So it irritated me.

If it is reality show, then let his reality come out. But he is acting as if nothing happened. Call me inside, call all those women inside, who were molested. I will tell him to show his private parts now. Bigg Boss is doing wrong, Salman Khan is doing. My legal representatives Saif and Sohail, they said they will send over a notice to the makers of Bigg Boss. I am not liking this.

I am not scared of what people will think of me. I am studying law and I am earning. I am not afraid of not having work. I don’t work in Bollywood, where any woman or I have to touch someone’s private parts and rate it. I don’t want double standards. I know what all happens in Bollywood.

At this point, I am not afraid of him, neither his supporters. Give us a chance to come inside. Unki galti pe parda diya ja raha hai. I want to ask Salman Khan, ‘Aap sabke bhai jaan bante ho, become my brother. Why are you supporting a molester?’ That show is running because of Salman Khan. If he wanted, he could have told the makers not to bring Sajid Khan to the show.

I am not telling Sajid Khan to be jailed right away. He is an accused. I just want that as an accused, he shouldn’t be allowed on any public platform neither as a contestant or a guest. This is only supporting molestation. It’s just not one woman, many women have raised her voices against him. With him on Bigg Boss, it’s only giving him support. He is a bad influence on youngsters. They will think – It’s ok to molest. No, you cannot touch a woman without consent.