Rani Mukerji and Deepika Padukone's Resurfaced Debate on Women's Safety Sparks Fresh Outrage Online

Following the tragic Kolkata rape and murder case, a video featuring Rani Mukerji and Deepika Padukone debating women’s safety has resurfaced online, reigniting discussions on the topic. The video is from a 2018 Actress Roundtable interview, where prominent Bollywood actresses, including Rani, Deepika, Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Tabu, and Taapsee Pannu, discussed the Me Too movement and the responsibility of women in ensuring their own safety.

During the discussion, Rani Mukerji expressed her belief that women should be proactive in defending themselves by learning martial arts. She said, "I think as a woman, you have to be that powerful yourself. If you ever come to a situation like that, you have the courage to say ‘back off.’ Everything relates to what you want in your life. If they are ever in a situation like that, they should make sure that the man suffers right there and then. Either kick him between his legs or give him a jhapad (slap) of his lifetime. He will remember it and become fearful of not doing it again."

However, Deepika Padukone did not agree with Rani’s perspective. She argued that the responsibility should not fall on women to protect themselves. Deepika countered, "We’re now talking about self-defense. Why should it even get to that stage where I need to learn how to defend myself? All of these things are great, but nip it in the bud; that situation itself should not arise."

Anushka Sharma supported Deepika’s viewpoint, emphasizing that society should focus on preventing such situations from occurring rather than expecting women to take sole responsibility for their safety.

The resurfaced video has drawn significant attention on social media, sparking a heated debate among users. Many have criticized Rani Mukerji’s comments, with one user stating, “Rani making 0 sense and points but keeps yapping on her nonsense. The ladies there are so patient because if it was me, I would have walked out.” Another user commented, “Rani is totally impractical here. She totally failed to understand the mental trauma and how a minor girl will take responsibility for herself.”

On the other hand, Deepika Padukone’s response has been widely praised for being rational and empathetic. One user wrote, “Kudos to Deepika and Anushka for not agreeing. The most stupid and senseless take on women's safety ever.”

The debate highlights the ongoing discussion about women’s safety in India, with divided opinions on whether self-defense or societal change should be the focus.