In the wake of the gang-rape of a photojournalist in Mumbai on Thursday (August 22) evening, director Vinta Nanda, who was reportedly date raped some years ago says that besides just feeling hurt, she feels insulted, shocked, helpless and hopeless. Vinta admits that having worked in the industry for 25 years now, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride. Ask her about her thoughts on the incident and she says, 'The government hasn’t been able to protect us women. These stray men are worse than dogs. As far as I believe, being women, we’re more powerful and have more strength emotionally, but we’re denied it by such acts. We’re forced and compelled to not exploit our courage. As far as this case goes, the photojournalist was a woman doing a job which for the last few decades was male-dominated. And men can’t take women being so forward and upfront. Their animal instinct comes out.' Vinta adds that it is such uneducated men who try to suppress women, thinking that a woman is, available.

She adds that in times like these, women should fight back. She says, 'I feel someone like her should fight back and not be scared. Every woman needs to get that mindset. These men need to be punished and not be forgiven.'

Vinta also says that the real issue is still not being addressed. She explains, 'We need to change the mentality of men in society. Gender inequality should be addressed from a man’s point of view. Through the media and various ways, we must try and change the perspective. And once again, everyone will feel bad for the woman and have feelings of sympathy. No. we should work towards changing the discourse and addressing the real issue, which is such men. We, as a fraternity, should speak to the world.'