Is India Ready for Men Like Pratik? | No Accountability?

*Warning* - Long Post!

I am making this post from a genuine place of concern and after quite a bit of thought.

I don't know how many of the forum members on BB forum live in India. I am sure a lot of you do and a lot of you also don't, considering that Indian TV and BB has viewers from all over the world.

Like me, some of you may have grown up in India - I have first hand and otherwise, seen how patriarchy thrives here. If you don't believe me, go to the rural parts of India and see that for yourself. (The rural population at this point is considered 65.07% in India, right now according to Internet data). But Urban parts of India also have that going quite a bit, although that's changing in the Urban cities.

So Men can party all they want, return home late, abuse, harass, bully anyone. Rapes are rampant in India too, as men disrespect women - but in a lot of households, men get away with anything without much accountability. Nobody asks or questions men - but women are questioned and judged here easily.

Now let me put this in context with BB. I am sure BB is an entertainment reality show and people like Pratik - are incredible footage creators! So this is what Pratik has been upto right? - Pick up a fight with anyone and everyone. Intervene and interrupt someone when they are talking in a time slot allotted specially to them. Show symptoms of acute attention seeking syndrome, talk over people, instigate people, bully people, be defensive to the core, fight hard to have the very last word. All in the name of entertainment and in the name of proving egalitarianism, when it comes to having a word and making his presence known, against the so called 'elite' of the house (Raqesh, Shamita, Karan, Riddhima).

This so called 'elite' club unfortunately also happen to be decent and civil folks. They unfortunately happen to have been in the industry for longer than the likes of Pratik, Moose etc. And according to Akshara's engrained insecurities, they happen to be non-Biharis too!

So I am just curious - what exactly makes people support a bully like Pratik? (I see so many supporters of him on Youtube, here in BB forum) What makes people cheer him on?

The fact that he's still a newbie and trying to make a name for himself, so people wanna support him as they relate to him? (#SushantSinghRajput Syndrome?) Or that he relentlessly picks fights with everyone, in the name of 'taking a stand' and thus provides 'entertainment'?

Because let me ask you to just flip the script for a moment. Let's say, if the exact same behavior was shown by a woman in the BB house - what would the audience have to say to that? We have had Dolly Bindra in the past doing that. Pooja Mishra from BB5 did that. These women were termed as 'Psychos'.

Poor Riddhima was interrupted thrice by Pratik - 1) When she burst the baloon over Pratik's head and was giving a reason for the same to KJo. 2) When she was genuinely finding it hard in the 'Kala Dil' task to choose between Neha and Divya 3) When Karan and Riddhima were specifically allotted time to speak in the panchayat on their reasons.

Now because she finally had an outburst and cried, and had stood upto Pratik in the past, people were quick to term her as a 'psycho' or as a woman, who's seeking 'footage' from Pratik. So her views and her frustrations are absolutely dismissed. Afterall Pratik 'rules' everyone. I am pretty sure if Pratik cries tommorow as Riddhima did today, his tears will be regarded as the holy waters of River Ganga by the audience, isn't it?

If a woman behaves, even half as crazy as Pratik does, or imitates him or stands upto him - she's a 'psycho' and is a 'disappointment'. But Pratik is a 'Hero', an 'undisputed / invincible Lion' because he knows how to 'rule' BB!

So what exactly is this all about?

Is this because Pratik is a Man - so he gets praised for this behavior and gets away with everything? Do both women and men in our country AND around the world, praise the 'Bad Boy' image, who they also love to think has a soft heart! ('awww'). But if a woman in such shows, dares to come up the same behavior or even close, she is called a 'vamp' or a 'psycho'. ( Akshara as well, is all 'Latoo' over her Pratik who appeared villainous according to her on the stage at the premier episode, but she apparently decided that she 'wanted' him and wanted to support him in everything, like a sati savitri wife.😳) And Karan Johar as well, supported Pratik on Saturday, but bashed other folks who seems much more decent.

Now before people jump at me - I understand very well that this is an entertainment reality show and it's all for 'entertainment purpose only'. But I honestly don't think India as a nation is ready or mature enough to process such shows in good spirit. We have the largest concentration of youth in the world and there are kids growing up as well. But IF the audience chooses to praise and glorify folks like Pratik, then they are also approving the traits, in someone like him and of course are going to be inspired to be crazy aggressive like him. The sad part is, they are going to be as quick to disapprove a woman, if she shows glimpses of the same behavior, terming her a 'psycho' but glorifying a man on the other hand. India doesn't need more men growing up that way, spoilt rotten and being empowered for such brash behavior. Shows like BB subtly and subliminally influences folks, especially the younger audience.

I am amazed how Karan didn't take Pratik's class for this. Maybe Karan aunty is a drama queen himself and loves this kinda stuff? Atleast Salman used to try his best in the past to be as objective as possible, even if he had slip ups here and there. Karan Johar should've held Pratik accountable for his conduct last week IMO and Bigg Boss as a show, should have asked Karan to address that. It feels like there is no accountability here, as long as it's all entertainment!

If you argue, that a show like Bigg Boss is not obliged to be sending out any message and is meant to be purely for entertainment purpose, then I am sorry but no. India as a nation is not ready to process such filth in a mature manner. Unless every contestant is held accountable and not unduly glorified, I am pretty sure a lot of the naive folks watching the show, will think that Pratik's behavior is what they should imitiate and be inspired by. And that happens a lot here! Folks imitate popular / trending men and women a lot.

(Thanks goodness, Aunty Karan's nepo kid here is Shamita! Even tho Shamita has a bit of controlling streak, but she is also balanced and sensible in quite many ways. Imagine if Pratik was Karan's direct nepotism connection instead of Shamita here, toh kya hota? He would have praised Pratik no matter what.)

I feel bad for folks like Karan Nath, Raqesh who are actually decent and have rotten tomatoes thrown at them. Because I understand being decent can be boring, but the youth here need to get inspired by the right folks. You cannot live or work with folks like Pratik in the real world. It's not who shouts loudest here that needs to be rewarded, it's who shows the tenacity to endure such a toxic environment with maturity that needs to praised. I don't care who that is, it can even be Pratik if he chooses to be wiser in the future.

I am pretty sure the 'elite' group as Akshara points out, were infact the scared ones for the whole of last week! They did not want to pick up fights with the Pratik gang and people like Akshara, because they probably knew, that they would have accusations coming their way of being 'elite, hoity-toity, classy, arrogant, English-speaking folks'. Akshara anyway played the 'UP Bihar vs Elite Card' already and Pratik does it all the time subliminally - by feeling the need to fight with everyone, to make his presence known! I feel that Karan Nath, Raqesh, Riddhima, Shamita have been far too polite with them, decent and even subdued by some of them.

Just wanted to rant it out there.

India is very unsafe for women,

https://www.indialegallive.com/top-news-of-the-day/news/rape-country-no-woman-is-safe-in-india/

Bigg Boss is a regressive show with a misogynistic host who puts down strong women. Toxic men are almost always supported by host and channel as well as a large part of audience.

So if the audience in itself is toxic, then naturally toxic and anti-women behaviour will not only be tolerated but celebrated. Men will get away with a lot with this audience while women who speak out will be brutally attacked by host+channel+fans [Examples include Karishma Tanna, Kishwer, Hina Khan, Rubina, Rashmi and Divya Agarwal ], this happens every season.

This is a show-specific problem, as soon as The show ends, the person who exhibited toxicity doesnt succeed that much in industry. It can only end with a change in the host itself [maybe a female host] as well as a more educated and feminist audience. Not all audience of this show is bad, but there is for sure a part of them that dislike feminism and 'women card' and will automatically say woman player = bad, male player =good.

Until then, this will continue. Male toxicity will be applauded for flimsy reasons and strong women will continue to be demeaned. it is what is is. But i am optimistic that it will change for the better in the future. In the western world, USA, feminist behaviour is the new normal so hopefully it will soon carry over for us too.

Okay I understand your POV. I don't think people here who like Prateik have this mindset ki just because he is a guy he can get away with anything He is as much a contestant as others in the house. First few days he was kinda super annoying and intentionally/unintentionally picked fights with people, specifically with Divya, but the same could be said about her. Right now I am not exactly seeing him going and targetting people unnecessarily. And Riddhima's badtamizi, her unnecessary OTT reaction is justified? Have you seen the way she talks to him and berates him? Yesterday she went on his family as well. Just because she resorted to rona dhona after that doesn't make her right either. Her language "chal chal tu nikal tu hai kaun I will slap you" imagine if the roles were reversed. I am a woman too, I wonder how the reactions would have been had Pratik resorted to the abusing and disrespect that Riddhima has been dishing out to him since a past few days. What exactly has he said to her for her to drag his family in between? In that kaala dil task she was the one who unnecessarily targetted him by commenting ki Prateek hota to use pura duba deti, do you expect him to keep quiet? As for liking him people can have different reasons. Even in arguments I have never seen him hitting below the belt, abusing or being utterly disrespectful. Divya has abused him too while arguing. Why are gender roles even brought in between for a show like BB? Respect goes both ways. There are much more worse people than him in the house IMO. Just my two cents.

Originally posted by: infinity101

Okay I understand your POV. I don't think people here who like Prateik have this mindset ki just because he is a guy he can get away with anything He is as much a contestant as others in the house. First few days he was kinda super annoying and intentionally/unintentionally picked fights with people, specifically with Divya, but the same could be said about her. Right now I am not exactly seeing him going and targetting people unnecessarily. And Riddhima's badtamizi, her unnecessary OTT reaction is justified? Have you seen the way she talks to him and berates him? Yesterday she went on his family as well. Just because she resorted to rona dhona after that doesn't make her right either. Her language "chal chal tu nikal tu hai kaun I will slap you" imagine if the roles were reversed. I am a woman too, I wonder how the reactions would have been had Pratik resorted to the abusing and disrespect that Riddhima has been dishing out to him since a past few days. What exactly has he said to her for her to drag his family in between? In that kaala dil task she was the one who unnecessarily targetted him by commenting ki Prateek hota to use pura duba deti, do you expect him to keep quiet? As for liking him people can have different reasons. Even in arguments I have never seen him hitting below the belt, abusing or being utterly disrespectful. Divya has abused him too while arguing. Why are gender roles even brought in between for a show like BB? Respect goes both ways. There are much more worse people than him in the house IMO. Just my two cents.

I am not trying to drag gender role reversals here because I am dying too, but I've observed a lot of comments against Riddhima and the women on BB OTT on platforms like Youtube and also here in BB forum. But everything that Pratik did was almost glorified. He was exempted for the large part and also has a flourishing fan following I believe, for his 'conduct', whereas Riddhima who shows us a mirror of Pratik's female version, becomes a 'Psycho'.

I agree that Riddhima went on his family and that she should not have done. Obviously she lost her mind when she was instigated. But when it comes to Riddhima using 'chal chal' or using language that isn't expected of her, let me ask - is Pratik's rude interruptions, his haughty and conceited tone, his dismissive attitude and unwillingness to pay heed to anyone, any better? Why should he not be put under the same scrutiny as Riddhima? What is he being praised for when Riddhima is being called names for?

I'm sorry but while you are right that women are certainly demonized more than men it seems you are completely disregarding the fact that Shamita, Neha, Riddhima have gone below the belt regarding his family, upbringing and class. He has as much as a right to speak on house issues as they do.

With regards to Riddhima, as a captain he questioned why she did not wash dishes, she got rude and dismissive and that was the start. He was not haughty or conceited, she was just sensitive. After that, she kept at it and ofcourse its BB he will also give it back.

Dont forget that your so called classy people went and spoke about someone's mental health, said she needed a doctor, attacked her in herd mentality and bullied her. Oh yeah.....guess what, she was a woman too 🤪

Secondly what toxicity? The women in this show have gone physical, he has never gone physical on anyone. He hasn't sworn at them and certainly not said anything more problematic than they have.

Comparing a show to real life issues of assault and rape because you don't like a contestant is a bit much? He has not done anything remotely as toxic as previous male contestants (agreed on that with you), this is jumping the gun and how.

Originally posted by: Taylor_Swift

India is very unsafe for women,

https://www.indialegallive.com/top-news-of-the-day/news/rape-country-no-woman-is-safe-in-india/

Bigg Boss is a regressive show with a misogynistic host who puts down strong women. Toxic men are almost always supported by host and channel as well as a large part of audience.

So if the audience in itself is toxic, then naturally toxic and anti-women behaviour will not only be tolerated but celebrated. Men will get away with a lot with this audience while women who speak out will be brutally attacked by host+channel+fans [Examples include Karishma Tanna, Kishwer, Hina Khan, Rubina, Rashmi and Divya Agarwal ], this happens every season.

This is a show-specific problem, as soon as The show ends, the person who exhibited toxicity doesnt succeed that much in industry. It can only end with a change in the host itself [maybe a female host] as well as a more educated and feminist audience. Not all audience of this show is bad, but there is for sure a part of them that dislike feminism and 'women card' and will automatically say woman player = bad, male player =good.

Until then, this will continue. Male toxicity will be applauded for flimsy reasons and strong women will continue to be demeaned. it is what is is. But i am optimistic that it will change for the better in the future. In the western world, USA, feminist behaviour is the new normal so hopefully it will soon carry over for us too.

It's astounding how annoying this man has been to watch in the past one week and even more astounding, on how behavior like that is lauded. But folks like Riddhima and Divya can't show an ounce of what Pratik shows, else they'd be termed arrogant, psychos and annoying. This is not just Male Toxicity, but it's disgusting to see a person jump into everyone's conversation like that, barge into their talk time, into ongoing arguments and to instigate people that way. No matter who calls this as entertainment, put them in the BB house with Pratik or in any shared space with Pratik, let's see how how quickly their perspective would change about such a Man.

Pratik has never been humble enough to be corrected by anyone or bothered to listen to anyone! He would force his POV and himself on everyone including Neha. Absolutely toxic disguised as 'Oh such a Lion'.

Originally posted by: Deviant_Pixel

I'm sorry but while you are right that women are certainly demonized more than men it seems you are completely disregarding the fact that Shamita, Neha, Riddhima have gone below the belt regarding his family, upbringing and class. He has as much as a right to speak on house issues as they do.

Dont forget that your so called classy people went and spoke about someone's mental health, said she needed a doctor, attacked her in herd mentality and bullied her. Oh yeah.....guess what, she was a woman too 🤪

Secondly what toxicity? The women in this show have gone physical, he has never gone physical on anyone. He hasn't sworn at them and certainly not said anything more problematic than they have.

I mean sorry but are you comparing a show to real life issues of assault and rape because you don't like a contestant? He has not done anything remotely as toxic as previous male contestants, this is jumping the gun and how.

@Bold - You may want to read the context I've quite elaborately drawn out in my first few paras, of how toxic male behavior is glorified in a country like India and it doesn't help for a platform like BB to stretch the curtains of 'entertainment' into glorifying pure insolence, without accountability.

Talking about the women you mentioned about seemingly going physical - what physical attack are you talking about? Did anyone slap Pratik yet? Did anyone hit him? Did they push him? Did they use force against him? What's physical here? If they did go as 'Physical' as you seem to speak of, why haven't they been evicted by Bigg Boss?

Besides, the women you claim to mention here have through their fair share of criticism here on the forum and otherwise, because they probably earned that. But how is Pratik's obnoxiousness, harassment, bullying, constant rude interruptions, inability to listen or take in another's point, lack of humility and arrogance, not being held accountable for?

Originally posted by: loveandhope9204

I am not trying to drag gender role reversals here because I am dying too, but I've observed a lot of comments against Riddhima and the women on BB OTT on platforms like Youtube and also here in BB forum. But everything that Pratik did was almost glorified. He was exempted for the large part and also has a flourishing fan following I believe, for his 'conduct', whereas Riddhima who showes us a mirror of Pratik's female version, becomes a 'Psycho'.

I agree that Riddhima went on his family and that she should not have done. Obviously she lost her mind when she was instigated. But when it comes to Riddhima using 'chal chal' or using language that isn't expected of her, let me ask - is Pratik's rude interruptions, his haughty and conceited tone, his dismissive attitude and unwillingness to pay heed to anyone, any better? Why should he not be put under the same scrutiny as Riddhima? What is he being praised for when Riddhima is being called names for?

Originally posted by: loveandhope9204

@Bold - You may want to read the context I've quite elaborately drawn out in my first few paras, of how toxic male behavior is glorified in a country like India and it doesn't help for a platform like BB to stretch the curtains of 'entertainment' into glorifying pure insolence, without accountability.

Talking about the women you mentioned about seemingly going physical - what physical attack are you talking about? Did anyone slap Pratik yet? Did anyone hit him? Did they push him? Did they use force against him? What's physical here? If they did go as 'Physical' as you seem to speak of, why haven't they been evicted by Bigg Boss?

Besides, the women you claim to mention here have through their fair share of criticism here on the forum and otherwise, because they probably earned that. But how is Pratik's obnoxiousness, harassment, bullying, constant rude interruptions, inability to listen or take in another's point, lack of humility and arrogance, not being held accountable for?

I read your parallels and while absolutely relevant to India they are not applicable here because said contestant while annoying has not displayed misogyny. They are relevant to previous seasons maybe but not yet, not here imo.

Please see the episodes, yesterday Riddhima hit his hand away and the other HMs questioned her. Now is it significant? Nah. However if he did it, I am sure there would be outrage. Neha also pushed him, came at him in fights right up to his face. Or is it only significant if they slap Pratik but if they push or shove its fine? I don't quite get the logic here that whatever Riddhima does is due to instigation and what happened to Pratik is a non issue because BB did not intervene🤔

There is nothing he has done that the women in this show haven't, they have equally bullied, ganged up on and been obnoxious. Saying this is harassment is a stretch and equating someone's inability to listen is a character trait not misogynistic.

He has been criticized plenty as being annoying, every contestant has fans and naysayers, this is how the show goes. Now agreed in past seasons there have actually been contestants with problematic thinking and actions who have been glorified, this aint it imo.

Originally posted by: infinity101

I know Prateik has his shortcomings because most of the times he doesn't listen to people. But I have never seen him abusing/disrespecting the other party during arguments. Riddhima instigated? Since a last few days all I am seeing is her pouncing on him unnecessarily even when he is not talking to her. I for starters don't appreciate the tapori language she uses, I find it extremely disrespectful and below the belt when people speak the way she does, so it's not just about her. She doesn't even let him finish/complete and keeps on doing badtamizi. Yesterday also she was literally vibrating, shouting at the top of her lungs, went on his family, and the reason she gave? How can you or anyone for that matter expect someone to keep quiet when one's family is brought in between? She did that a few days back as well. Even during the Kala dil task she was saying I will slap you keep quiet and all that.So no I don't see her as the mirror version of Prateek because she is a lot more badtamiz, disrespectful and spineless as well. I don't know about YouTube, I agree that site can be full of shitty comments sometimes, but here I have never seen anyone till now blindly supporting Prateek on everything or any other contestant for that matter. People can have different perspectives, and I don't really blame people for calling out Riddhima on her behaviour/conduct since a last few days, and no it has nothing to do with her being a woman.

Riddhima I am sure was bashed / criticized enough on here, about her language. The truth is, tapori language is not expected of a woman, so when Riddhima used it - it got highlighted real easily. Whereas Pratik has been tapori in his behavior right from Day 1. Example - Divya tried to calm him down saying, 'Mujhe pyaar se baat karni hai', he pounced at her calling her bewakoof and disregarded her attempt to be civil. He went on Divya's Boyfriend, why is that accepted? He insulted her BF in front of the cameras and brought matters from an old reality show, they did together the fore. Well that had nothing to do with BB either - the past was personal between Divya, Varun and Pratik. You must be aware that Divya lives with Varun and their families are close knit, so Varun is like a family member to her. He was too happy to attack that - it almost felt like he was waiting for a chance to pounce on her, to settle old scores and grudges.

Coming to Riddhima's behavior - Riddhima's behavior with Pratik (when she tried to match his tempo of argument) was her attempt at showing Pratik - what he does to others. She made her reasons for choosing to behave that way, very clear, when she had her first heated argument with Pratik on the Bartan washing scenario. Riddhima ofcourse went overboard at times and was bashed for it.

Riddhima's intent was aimed only at Pratik, to make him have a taste of his own medicine. Whereas, Pratik has been doing that to everyone since Day 1. No regard for anyone whatsoever. Let's say, even if someone requests him to keep silent for a minute or not barge into an argument, that he doesn't know much about - his only come back is 'Main bolunga, karlo aapko jo bhi karna hai'. That is tapori behavior right there. Civil people do not do that. If Riddhima's language was tapori, I cannot overlook the fact that Pratik's approach to every situation and every person has been tapori since Day 1. Body language, mannerisms, the lack of respect for others and insolence - Pura ka pura taporipan ka package hai.