`Inkaar` not about obvious sleaze: Sudhir Mishra

New Delhi: Director Sudhir Mishra, whose upcoming release ‘Inkaar’ deals with the issue of sexual harassment at work-place, says the film is not sleazy in any way.

In the film, actress Chitrangada Singh plays a creative director of an advertisement agency, who files a case of sexual harassment against her boss, played by Arjun Rampal. The film hits theatres on January 18. "My film is not about obvious sleaze. It is a story about a relationship gone sour. It is a story about two charismatic individuals, who clash because of power and ambition," Mishra told reporters in an interview. The filmmaker, who is behind critically acclaimed films like `Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi`, `Dharavi` and `Chameli`, feels it is high time that such issues are discussed in open and says ‘Inkaar’ is one such attempt. "The subject of harassment is rampant wherever you go. Women are independent, they are coming out and do not take nonsense from anyone. They say no and they make it sure that the no is non-negotiable," says Mishra, who is known for creating strong female protagonists in his films. Despite the volatile theme of sexual harassment, the film has fetched a U/A certificate but Mishra is not surprised. "I am not surprised but very glad that we got a U/A certificate. A 14-year-old is so much more exposed these days. I don`t understand why is sex such a dirty word. I feel because of this repression a lot of things happen. "Harassment leads to many things. You think you can get away but times are changing. The film deals with certain things frankly and I also think young people who are going to the workplace should be sensitised about these things. I think it is hight time that men learnt to deal with women as their equal." In ‘Inkaar’, Mishra has teamed up with Chitrangada for the third time after launching her in ‘Hazaaron Khwahishen Aisi’ and working with her on ‘Yeh Saali Zindagi’. "I have worked with other actresses like Soha Ali Khan in `Khoya Khoya Chand` and Kareena Kapoor in `Chameli`. I chose Chitrangada for this film because she is good, beautiful and I work well with her. "She personifies the woman that I believe in -- slightly mysterious, strong headed. They don`t belong to you completely. They are sometimes wrong and she is not afraid to play wrong unlike many other actors," says the filmmaker. Mishra also believes that his association with the dusky beauty is one like Martin Scorsese-Robert De Niro, Karan Johar-Shah Rukh Khan. PTI