Made In Heaven 2 Makers Claim Radhika Apte Episode Isn’t Inspired By Yashica Dutt, Internet Is In Disbelief!
This is truly disappointing.
The whole controversy surrounding episode five from Made In Heaven season 2 has taken a turn for the worse. Radhika Apte played a character called Pallavi Menke in the episode who is a Dalit woman who studied at Columbia University and penned a book about owning her identity. This story is inspired by the life of author Yashica Dutt quite literally. But makers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Neeraj Ghaywan have not formally credited Dutt for taking inspiration from her life and book. In fact, they are rejecting Yashica’s claims and have said that Pallavi’s character is entirely fictional.
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In a joint statement shared by Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti and Neeraj Ghaywan, they said it plain and clear that nothing from episode five of Made In Heaven is inspired by author Yashica Dutt’s life and book. This 180-degree flip made the makers comes shortly after Neeraj saying in an Instagram post that the “coming out” term used by Yashcia in her book inspired Pallavi Menke’s interview section in the show.
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Suddenly, the makers discredited Yashica Dutt entirely. The makers also said in their statement that they have taken common narratives about Dalit oppression through history to make the said episode. They further said that have made the episode based on their research.
The Made In Heaven team went from citing Yashica Dutt (a Dalit scholar who popularized "coming out as a Dalit"), as inspiration for Radhika Apte's character, to discrediting her, in days! Talk about capitalising Dalit sentiments at the cost of a Dalit!@radhika_apte @YashicaDutt pic.twitter.com/94Q6fxohWR
— Oninthough G (@OninthoughG) August 17, 2023
This led to people on the internet feeling disappointed and many are even calling out director Neeraj Ghaywan for failing his own community. People are surprised at the irony where the makers made an entire episode about a Dalit owning her identity and reaching new heights and then went to discredit the woman they took inspiration from to make this episode. Internet users are angry that Neeraj and others are not just discrediting Yashica but also gaslighting her openly.
First, @ghaywan already acknowledged his debt to @YashicaDutt’s work in his Instagram post. This statement is harsher, it obfuscates, deflects, discredits, and gaslights without engaging with Yashica’s real concern — erasure, labor, and acknowledgment. https://t.co/xZEDLz5Wk4
— Suchitra Vijayan 🇵🇸 (@suchitrav) August 18, 2023
You are making yourselves look even worse. What you have done is extractive and to not acknowledge it, but actively deny it is horrible. You have not responded to @YashicaDutt’s concerns—at all. We are all watching — aghast at the gaslighting.
— Veena Dubal (@veenadubal) August 17, 2023
It is especially unfathomable why there would be so many justifications of the many other things which have also influenced the narrrative, while refusing the acknowledge someone who has infact inspired the character formally. Disappointing.
— Mayuri Purkayastha (@mayuri1296) August 17, 2023
please don't joke with everyone anyone who hasn't even read the book will know the moment they see the episode that it's taken from Yashica's life, how do you write this belittling message right after acknowledging that credits go to her, not very smart of these people https://t.co/0LDnadzf3N
— ana (@mightbeana) August 18, 2023
The episode was stunning but to discredit the striking resemblance to @YashicaDutt's life story, and now to double down on the gaslighting and deflection is sad. She never claimed every single detail was lifted from her life or book but the resemblance is undeniable. https://t.co/6XKWX4C9E3
— Disha Shetty (@dishashetty20) August 18, 2023
People are also surprised at how the makers said something else initially and have now turned their backs on Yashica.
Within 10-15 minutes into the episode 5 of Made in Heaven, I had no doubt that the story was based on Yashica Dutt. No one had to tell me that. I just knew.
This is such a disappointing stance by the director. https://t.co/jfuGFr85bY
— Prabha ganjaa shop owner (@PrabhaOwner) August 17, 2023
Also read: Explained: What Is The Made In Heaven 2 Dalit Wedding Controversy All About?
“This inspired Pallavi's interview section in the episode”
He thanked @YashicaDutt 5 days ago by saying that she was the inspiration for the word "Coming Out" and now he is denying it.
Why bro why?
Image credits: @wakil_saheeba https://t.co/YKmVbrmJqa pic.twitter.com/NgkTvoZ6ti
— Alexander Supertramp😕 (@IntoTheWildGuy) August 17, 2023
This is truly sad and disappointing that the makers have restored to doing this. Name-calling the term coined by Yashica Dutt in her book which she has exclusive rights to and then claiming that they did not take inspiration from her proves that Neeraj and others just don’t want to give credit where it is due.
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