Bollywood actor Mouni Roy has spoken out about a deeply disturbing experience she faced at a recent event in Karnal, Haryana — an incident that has once again raised serious questions about safety, dignity, and accountability at public appearances involving female artists.
Taking to Instagram Stories, the actor described being sexually harassed by audience members, including elderly men, as she made her way toward the stage.
“Hands on My Waist in the Name of Photos”
According to Mouni, the incident began the moment she entered the venue. As she walked toward the stage, several men from the audience allegedly touched her waist under the excuse of clicking photographs.
Expressing her disgust, she wrote that two men — “old enough to be grandparents” — repeatedly crossed physical boundaries. When she objected and asked them to remove their hands, the response was hostile rather than apologetic.
Her message made it clear that speaking up only escalated the discomfort.
Harassment Continued During the Performance
The situation reportedly worsened once Mouni was on stage. She alleged that two men standing in the front row began making lewd remarks, obscene hand gestures, and name-calling.
Initially, she tried to handle the situation politely, signalling them to stop. Instead, they allegedly started throwing roses at her. Overwhelmed mid-performance, Mouni briefly walked toward the exit before returning to complete her act — despite the continued harassment.
What troubled her further was the complete lack of intervention.
“No family member or organiser moved them from the front,” she noted, adding that the men remained in place even after repeated misconduct.
“If This Can Happen to Me…”
In one of the most powerful parts of her statement, Mouni reflected on what this incident means for women who are new to the industry.
“If someone like me has to go through this,” she wrote, “I can only imagine what new girls starting out must face.”
She described herself as humiliated and traumatised, calling on authorities to take action and stressing that such behaviour cannot be brushed aside as “part of the job.”
Low-Angle Videos and Verbal Abuse
In another story, Mouni revealed an even more unsettling detail — the stage was elevated, and the same men were allegedly recording low-angle videos. When others asked them to stop, they were verbally abused.
While reaffirming her love for the country and its culture, she questioned the entitlement that allowed such behaviour to go unchecked.
“We go to these events as guests, to add joy to someone’s celebration,” she wrote. “And this is how we’re treated.”
Artists Are Not Public Property
Mouni made it clear that performers are simply professionals earning an honest living through their craft. She questioned how the same men would react if such behaviour were directed at women in their own families — daughters, sisters, or relatives.
Her words struck a chord online, with many calling for stricter event security and zero tolerance for harassment.
On the Work Front
Professionally, Mouni Roy was last seen in The Bhootnii alongside Sanjay Dutt and Sunny Singh. She later appeared in the espionage thriller Salakaar, which released on OTT platforms.
Final Words
Mouni Roy’s account is not just about one event — it reflects a larger, uncomfortable reality faced by women in public-facing professions. Her decision to speak up shines a harsh light on behaviour that is often normalised or ignored.
Whether authorities and organisers act on this moment will determine if such incidents continue to be repeated — or finally taken seriously.
