Actor Adil Hussain says patriarchy is "the greatest apartheid" as it alienates half of the population in the world.
Lending his support to #MeToo movement, the actor says it is appalling how people are putting women down when they are naming and shaming their abusers.
"How do we get rid of the patriarchal mindset that men have been drilled to believe in that men are superior than women? I think that is the greatest apartheid on the planet. Not towards blacks, not towards Dalits, but towards women. Half the population on the planet is being done injustice to at any given time through words, actions, in society, in politics, everywhere.
"And we don't even recognise it when they come out in public and say 'you have done this to me'. And we try to put her down?" Hussain told PTI on the sidelines of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
The actor says it is "tricky" to get a bigger picture today but at least there is a fear that has crept in the minds of the oppressors.
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"It's a difficult time... Then I thought that at least out of fear of being exposed, people will stop. But is that a good thing? At least out of fear of justice most people don't go out to kill people. Justice system is one of the most lowest mechanism to keep law and order. To keep the balance so that we don't fall into chaos.
"Ideally, we should be harmonious, respect each other, have compassion and all these glorified words. But we don't, so we have a system."
He says there will be a few cases whose real intent lies in vendetta or maligning someone but the movement is too important for the times to be diluted.
"Yes, some people will take advantage. I think it is like those times when the law is misused sometimes. But that doesn't mean that we get rid of the justice system. This (#MeToo) is way more important than the amount of misuse which is happening, if at all it is happening."
Hussain says #MeToo is a starting point and the society will slowly go into introspection.
"Some males would be like 'have I done something like that?' I am thinking about it. 'Have I ever forced myself on anybody?', even in my teenage days. The silent introspection is also happening in the industry and in families. It is an important step in recognising women as equal," he says.
His next is paranormal thriller "Nirvana Inn", with Rajshri Deshpande and Sandhya Mridul.
Asked about his journey to "Nirvana Inn' from the critically acclaimed "Mukti Bhawan", which had salvation theme at its core, the actor says it is funny how these stories find him.
"'Mukti Bhawan' was about how you can unburden yourself when you die, whereas 'Nirvana Inn' is about when you're burdened with something and you go deeper into the garbage that you believe in," he explained.
Husaain will next be seen as male lead in Gautam Ghosh's Hindi film tentatively titled 'One Day in the Rains' with Neeraj Kabi and Tillotama Shome.
Others are "Lorny" (loosely translates to someone who pokes his nose everywhere) and "Ek Betuke Aadmi ki Afra Raatein" (Joyous Nights of a Ridiculous Man) based on Dostoevsky and Premchand stories.
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