A marital rape is a sexual assault : Gulshan Grover

While stereotypes of rape get much coverage in the media, the issue of marital rape is one of the commonest crimes that remains under wraps even in educated households. A marital rape is a sexual assault in which the perpetrator is the victim's spouse.

Bollywood too has tread on this subject carefully, Kalpana Lajmi's Daman was a rare film revolving around such a plot. Now, Karan Razdan is coming up with Mittal Vs Mittal, starring Ritupurna Sen Gupta, Rohit Roy, Gulshan Grover and Suchitra Krishnamurthy. Gulshan talks about his role of a lawyer to Rohit and the film dealing with marital rape.

Q: What is Mittal V/S Mittal all about?
A: It's a story about a wife who accuses her husband of raping her. Sexual intimacy is legal only if both parties consent, forceful intimation is not legal and that's what the movie projects.

Q: Is it a Hinglish movie?
A: No. it's an Indian movie. Though, English has also been used as a medium of communication.

Q: This certainly is an educational film, but do you think the censor board will let go of all the scenes unedited?
A: There are no sex scenes in this film. It only projects the dilemma a female goes through. The trauma of marital rape is much more then the victims of any other rape. Reason: lack of social validation. It prevents the victim from sending out an SOS for help.

Q: Your personal comments on marital rape?
A: For me marriage is a social consent, as well as mutual consent. It should be lived with dignity and not disrespected. The wife should not be forced for anything without her consent, her state of mind needs to be respected. Intimacy should always be upon mutual consent.

Q: Where was the movie shot?
A: The entire movie was shot in Mumbai.

Q: What's your role in the movie?
A: I am playing a lawyer defending Rohit, and my character is loosely based on Mahesh Jethmalani. My role is that of a modern lawyer with contemporary thoughts. The movie has an hour of court scenes.

Q: So do you portray Mahesh Jethmalani in the film?
A: No, not exactly. The director has taken inspiration from this young dynamic lawyer. And my character is inspired by him.

Q: Did you seek professional help to be more convincing in a lawyer's role?
A: If I feel that the role requires exposure then I go for it. Yes, I have done some research and sought professional help for playing this character. I am aware of a lot of people who just to anything to get publicity. But I am different.

Q.:So who wins the court battle in the end, you or Suchitra?
A: (Laughs) Obviously me, I am the best.