Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj is an Indian journalist, documentary film-maker and

men's rights activist The men's rights movement (MRM) is a branch of the men's movement. The MRM in particular consists of a variety of groups and individuals (men's rights activists or MRAs) who focus on general social issues and specific government services which ...

. Bhardwaj rose to prominence after producing the documentary ''Martyrs of Marriage'', which covered abuses of criminal section 498A (Anti-dowry law) by brides and their families. She also exposed a conspiracy of alleged victims in the Rohtak sisters viral video controversy by interviewing the witnesses and collecting proof. She has produced and directed the documentary ''India's Sons'' in 2021.

Early career

Bhardwaj left a job in the information technology industry to pursue film-making. Her first documentary film ''Gramin Dak Sevak'' was a student film winner at Jeevika: Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival in 2009.

Activism

498-A and ''Martyrs of Marriage''

Bhardwaj alleges to have been the victim of a false 498A case, after she and her cousin were charged under the provisions courtesy a police-complaint by her ex-sister-in-law; the issue was resolved in an off-court settlement involving a huge sum of money. This brought her into contacts with

Save Indian Family Foundation Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF) is a men's rights movement in India, men's rights group in India. It is a registered, non-funded, non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) and works with various like-minded NGOs in India. History ...

, and she has since often collaborated with them in demanding an outright repeal of the law or amending to a gender-neutral version. Bhardwaj's personal episode also went on to serve as the motivations for making a documentary on the locus. ''Martyrs of Marriage'' (2017) narrated first-person tales of various victims who alleged of being at the receiving ends of abuse of 498A and interviewed politicians, judges et al. for their take on the issue.

False sexual harassment allegations

Bhardwaj campaigns against false sexual harassment allegations. She had supported the #Mentoo movement, a campaign that was started in response of false allegations of the #MeToo movement in India and wrote about how the me-too movement turned men into disposable or collateral damage. In the Rohtak sisters viral video controversy, she interviewed several witnesses and released videos that held the accusers of lying. In 2021, Bhardwaj played a proactive role in busting the case where a female student of Atma Ram College of B.A English named Ayushi Bhatia who had filed a series of sexual assault and rape cases to extort money.

National Commission for Men

Bhardwaj campaigns for the establishment of a National Commission for Men in India that would deal with men's issues including domestic violence and sexual assault.

''India's Sons''

In 2021, she produced another documentary called ''India's Sons,'' which was focused on the condition of India's men due to false rape cases. She said that the documentary "inspired" men to tell their side of the story.

Filmography

Documentary

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bhardwaj, Deepika Narayan Living people People from Gurgaon Activists from Haryana Journalists from Haryana Indian women activists Indian women journalists Indian women documentary filmmakers Indian documentary film directors Indian producers Indian human rights activists Men's rights activists Indian activist journalists 21st-century Indian journalists