Not my battle to fight: Mallika Dua on allegations against father Vinod Dua

Addressing allegations of sexual harassment against her father, senior journalist Vinod Dua, actor-comic star Mallika Dua has pledged solidarity with the #MeToo movement and says she will let him take up the fight.

"If at all my father is truly guilty of what you described, it is unacceptable, traumatic and painful," Mallika said on Sunday in response to documentary filmmaker Nishtha Jain's allegation that Vinod Dua had harassed and stalked her almost three decades ago.

Referencing Akshay Kumar's off-colour remark at Mallika on a comedy reality TV show that had enraged Vinod Dua, Jain put out a lengthy Facebook post on Saturday, calling out the media personality for his sexism from years ago.

She also named Mallika in her allegations.

Mallika issued a statement on Instagram in response, asserting that Jain dragging her name into the controversy was "in terrible taste".

"I am in solidarity with the movement and in support of the voices but your dragging my name into this was in terrible taste," she said.

The onus of the "battle" was not on her, Mallika said, adding that she would deal with the case in her way and on her time.

"This is not my battle to fight. It's not my responsibility or my shame or my burden. I will deal with this my way and on my time. Stop forcing women to give statements for your entertainment.

"I stand with the movement and will not let its objectives, ideals and purpose be hijacked by the shamers. This is my dad's battle, I will let him fight it and I will stand by him."