Actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar said the ongoing “MeToo” movement in the Malayalam film industry is “heartbreaking.”
Amid a ‘#MeToo’ wave in the Malayalam film industry, actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar stated on Wednesday that the Kerala government-appointed Justice K Hema Committee was “essential” to address the abuse faced by female professionals in cinema. On her official X account, she expressed that the current “MeToo” movement in “our industry is heartbreaking” and urged women not to compromise.
The Justice Hema Committee, formed after the 2017 actress assault case, released its 235-page report last week, highlighting instances of harassment and exploitation of women in Malayalam cinema.
“Kudos to the women who have stood their ground and emerged victorious,” Ms. Sundar wrote in a detailed post on X.
“Abuse, demands for sexual favors, and expecting women to compromise to advance their careers exist in every field. Why is it that only women are expected to endure this? While men also face it, it’s largely women who bear the burden,” she said.
She highlighted that the fear of being shamed, victim-blamed, and asked questions like “Why did you do it?” or “What made you do it?” can break a woman.
“The victim may be a stranger to you or me, but she needs our support, a listening ear, and emotional backing,” said Ms. Sundar, a BJP leader.
“When questioning why she didn’t speak out sooner, we must consider her circumstances—not everyone has the privilege to do so,” she added.
Khushbu Sundar addressed questions about why she took so long to speak out about her father’s abuse. She acknowledged that she should have spoken up sooner, but clarified that her experience was not about compromising her career. She was abused by the very person who should have been her greatest protector.
Ms. Sundar, a former member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), revealed last year that she was sexually abused by her father at age 8. At 15, she began resisting him, which led him to abandon the family, as she shared in a town hall meeting last year
Khushbu Sundar’s Warning to a Producer
In an interview with NDTV on Wednesday, Khushbu Sundar emphasized the importance of women standing up, speaking out, and confronting harassment. She recounted a specific incident early in her South Indian cinema career, when a producer, sensing her vulnerability due to her lack of industry connections, attempted to exploit her. She noted that the producer likely assumed she would give in to his pressure.
He made an inappropriate advance by entering my makeup room during a Telugu film shoot. I took off my slippers and told him I wore size 41. I asked him if he preferred a confrontation right there or in front of the entire crew. That put him in his place,” she told NDTV, stressing that women need to defend themselves immediately.
She also emphasized that both men and women should offer support. Women often work in environments where they expect protection from the men around them, but unfortunately, this support is not always provided, she noted.