Once she was out of the Bigg Boss house, Sofia Hayat filed an FIR against Armaan Kohli for physical abuse. We all know what happened then – he was arrested from the Bigg Boss house but then later released on bail (only to return to the competition). As a result, Sofia boycotted the finale of the show, after which she sat down and recorded a YouTube video to set the record straight on a number of things. Watch her new “tell-all” video to hear her side of the story.
Some highlights:
1. On the sexual assault charges:
“My Hindi is good enough to understand most things, but I don’t understand dirty, disgusting swear words. The police obviously saw those and levied sexual abuse charges on top, which I thank the police for.”
2. On Gauahar’s victory:
“I’m very happy Gauahar won Bigg Boss; she’s a very much deserving winner. I love the girl, she’s honest, and thank you all so much that you voted for her and made her the winner. She’s a strong woman whom I deeply respect.”
3. On Salman Khan being partial:
“It’s a fact that Bigg Boss themselves did not help me at that time when Armaan hit me. When Andy was pushed by Kushal, they threw Kushal out of the house. When a woman was hit by a 6 foot man, nothing happened. I was told that there are connections between Armaan’s family, Tanishaa’s family and Salman’s family, which is absolutely fine. I don’t have a problem with that. But I don’t understand why Salman shouted at Kushal so many times but didn’t shout at Armaan. A few people have also said to me, ‘Sofia, you should drop the complaint because maybe it will hamper some of your work.’ I don’t know what the bond is between Amaan and Salman, and whether Salman will be upset about this complaint. I’m hoping that Salman is big enough, but I don’t think he is.”
4. On abuse:
“My father hit my mother when I was younger. I’ve been in abusive relationships. I have friends who have been in terribly abusive relationships. If I had kept my mouth shut, it would’ve been like saying it’s okay. But it’s not okay.”
5. On the Delhi gangrape victim:
“A lot of the fans have compared me to Nirbhaya, which is a huge compliment. But what I’ve gone through is nothing compared to what happened. However, on December 16th 2012 she died as a result of a man committing an act of violence on a woman. In 2012 December 16th, Armaan Kohli was arrested for hitting a woman. I don’t see that as any sort of coincidence. Maybe the universe is trying to tell us all something. That violence can happen in poor communities and amongst celebrities.”
There are so many things wrong with that statement on so many levels that I can’t even wrap my head around it. How could anyone consider being compared to the Delhi gangrape victim a compliment? Come on lady, what were you even thinking by saying that?
6. On skipping the finale:
“I was upset that they invited Armaan. They did invite me, but I didn’t go because I didn’t want to be in the same place as him. I didn’t feel safe being around him.”
7. On boycotting Armaan’s films:
“If you’re a woman who does believe that we have a voice, if you’re a woman who saw Bigg Boss and thought what happened to me was wrong, if you’re a man who has a mother or a sister or a daughter that you respect – then I need your help. I need you all to make a stand for violence against women in India. You can all do something so simple. So simple but it will make a huge amount of difference. I am appealing to you all to never, ever buy a cinema ticket and watch Armaan Kohli’s movie. If we don’t buy tickets to his movies, then he will be off the screens. He will be shamed in his own career. Nobody will hire him.”
What’s your take on her video?