Manas Shah, who has been a part of shows Humari Devrani, Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan, Yeh Hai Chahatein, and was recently seen in Tulsi—Hamari Badi Sayani, has spoken out about the shocking incident at Mahakumbh, where women were secretly filmed while bathing, and the videos were sold online. Expressing his deep disappointment and anger, he condemned the incident and emphasized the urgent need for a change in mentality to prevent such crimes.
Speaking on the issue, Manas Shah said, “Every person is aware of their own actions. That’s why you don’t see crowds gathering by the banks of the Ganga without reason—people go there to wash away their sins. It’s true that anyone can lie to the world, but no one can lie to themselves. Deep down, they know the mistakes and even crimes they have committed, whether intentionally or not.”
He further added that those involved in this crime are not just the ones who secretly recorded the videos, but also the ones who bought and spread them. “The person committing the crime is obviously guilty, but those who enable or ignore such crimes are just as guilty. The ones who sold and the ones who bought were equally responsible. This kind of thing should never happen, especially when people engage in such immoral activities for the sake of money—it reflects a deeply corrupt and disgusting mindset.”
Manas believes that real change will only come when we shift our focus toward raising boys with the right values. He pointed out that society often places more restrictions on daughters while ignoring the mindset of sons. “Most parents tend to be more protective of their daughters. They keep a close watch on where they go and who they meet. But in reality, we need to focus on changing the mentality of boys. Parents should pay extra attention to their sons—who they spend time with, what kind of mindset they are developing.”
He strongly suggested that parents should have open conversations with their sons about respecting women. “As boys grow up, parents should sit with them at least once a month and make them understand that if they ever think of doing something wrong, they should consider how they would feel if the same thing happened to a woman in their own family.”
According to him, awareness and intervention are crucial. “Ignoring such things is just as bad as committing them. To change the corrupt mentality of society, it is the responsibility of parents, elders, and even sisters and daughters in a household to be alert and actively work toward stopping such things.”
While discussing the punishment for the culprits, Manas Shah expressed his belief that the strictest action should be taken against them. However, he also highlighted that punishment alone is not the solution. “I believe there should be the harshest possible consequences for such crimes. But our legal system is based on the Constitution, which has been created by wise minds after considering various factors. I trust that it will provide the appropriate punishment.”
But he emphasized that the bigger issue is changing people’s perspectives. “Punishment alone is not the solution—the real issue is mindset. We need to change the way people think. Unless someone experiences a situation firsthand, they may never truly understand its seriousness. That’s why we must work on changing perspectives. Once the mentality of people improves, these horrible incidents will stop happening.”