'We are kinder to our nude men': Apurva Asrani calls out double standards towards Milind Soman and Poonam Pandey's pictures

Mumbai, November 5

National Award-winning film editor and screenplay writer Apurva Asrani highlights the hypocrisy in Indian society over the idea of nudity, comparing the news around actors Milind Soman and Poonam Pandey.

On Wednesday, Milind posted a picture of himself running nude on a Goa beach, on the occasion of his 55th birthday.

The post was flooded with appreciation, and some memes in goodnatured jest. On the other hand, an FIR was filed against Poonam for shooting an "obscene video" on a Goa beach recently.

Apurva shared pictures of both actors, and tweeted: "#PoonamPandey & #MilindSoman both stripped down to their birthday suits in #Goa recently. Pandey partly, Soman completely. Pandey is in legal trouble--for obscenity. Soman is being lauded for his fit body at age 55. I guess we are kinder to our nude men than to our nude women." Milind shared the image and wrote: "Happy birthday to me! 55 and running." On the other hand, a police inspector was suspended on Thursday following outrage over actor Poonam's controversial photoshoot at a restricted dam site in South Goa.

#PoonamPandey & #MilindSoman both stripped down to their birthday suits in #Goa recently. Pandey partly, Soman completely. Pandey is in legal trouble--for obscenity. Soman is being lauded for his fit body at age 55. I guess we are kinder to our nude men than to our nude women. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/qQ9UFQIYXJ

— Apurva (@Apurvasrani) November 4, 2020

Photos from the provocative shoot featuring Pandey, held at the Chapoli dam in Canacona sub district, had gone viral earlier this week, which sparked protests in the area, with ruling and opposition party members staging a protest on Thursday, demanding action against police officials permitting the shoot.

On Wednesday, police also filed a First Information Report, first against unknown persons and then against Poonam Pandey under section 294 (obscenity) of the Indian Penal Code, after Goa Police received nearly half a dozen written complaints regarding the controversial photo shoot. IANS