“They Isolated Me”: Alisha Chinai Recalls Industry Isolation After 1996 Sexual Harassment Case Against Anu Malik

Pop Star of the 90s reveals how her career stalled and no one offered support following legal action against the music composer, but later reconciled after an apology and backed other women during #MeToo.

Veteran singer Alisha Chinai has recently opened up about the profound professional isolation she faced from the Bollywood music industry after filing a sexual harassment case against acclaimed music composer Anu Malik in 1996.

Speaking in an interview with Zoom, the “Made In India” sensation revealed the significant toll that taking legal action took on her career, stating that her work offers quickly dried up.

The Decision to Speak Up

Chinai, who was a prominent voice in Bollywood and the undisputed Queen of Indipop in the 90s, admitted she was initially reluctant to pursue the case. However, she was strongly encouraged by her then-husband and manager, Rajesh, to take a stand.

Recounting the atmosphere in the industry at the time, Alisha said, “I believe they dismissed it outright. Ultimately, it’s a man’s domain, sadly. Well, it used to be. Now, it’s a woman’s domain.” She credited her former husband for providing crucial support: “At that time, I was married, and my former husband Rajesh was also overseeing much of my career. He was quite supportive of my perspective.”

Career Halted and Isolation Followed

The immediate aftermath of the public case was a significant career setback for the singer. Given that a large portion of her work was with Anu Malik, her professional life was severely impacted.

“A lot of my work just stopped,” she shared. The singer also expressed her disappointment that none of her industry colleagues came forward to support her during the difficult time. Despite the isolation, Alisha maintained her resilience, stating, “But I told myself, forget it, it didn’t bother me that they isolated me.”

The Controversial Reunion

Years after the legal dispute, Alisha Chinai and Anu Malik professionally reunited in 2003, collaborating on a song for the film Ishq Vishk and later appearing together as judges on the reality show Indian Idol.

Alisha clarified that this reconciliation was only possible after the composer offered a personal apology. She explained that Anu Malik admitted to having “crossed the line,” which allowed her to move forward professionally.

Solidarity in the #MeToo Movement

In 2018, when multiple women came forward with similar accusations of misconduct against Anu Malik during the #MeToo movement, many reached out to Alisha Chinai, seeking her support and validation.

Although she initially hesitated, having moved on from her own trauma, she eventually lent her strong support to the survivors, stating that she fully backed their claims and could relate to their experiences.

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