“Bad Experience From Superstar, He Groped Me": Malayalam Actress Sonia Malhar
The Malayalam film industry continues to grapple with disturbing revelations following the release of the Hema Committee report. Actress Sonia Malhar is the latest to share a troubling account of her experiences on set, accusing a prominent superstar of inappropriate behaviour.
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In an interview with Malayalam news channel Reporter, Sonia recounted an incident from 2013, when she was working on a film set in Thodupuzha. She claimed that the superstar groped her as she was returning from the toilet.
Read also: No Complaints Brought To Me: Actor Mukesh On Hema Committee Report
“I admired him greatly,” Sonia said, explaining that she was shocked and terrified by the experience. After pushing him away, she confronted the actor, asking why he had behaved in such a manner. According to Sonia, he responded by commenting on her dress and eyes, claiming he had noticed her attractiveness the moment she arrived on set. The superstar even offered to recommend her for more roles in the movies.
Read also: Sreelekha Mitra Accuses Director Ranjith Of ‘Misbehavior’; He Denies
The superstar later apologised to Sonia. The actress, who is the sole breadwinner for her family, decided against pursuing legal action, citing her fragile financial and mental state.
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“I am not revealing his name. He is happily living with his family now, and I don’t want them to suffer,” she said. “But do stars have the right to abuse someone without their consent? I love acting, yet I still fear going to film sets. I was even removed from several movies because of this.”
Read also: “A Lady Used Me As A ‘Keep’ For Years”: Malayalam Actor Sudhir
Sonia’s revelations, after many other actresses expressed the bad experiences they endured in Malayalam film sets, add to the growing demands for justice following the release of the Hema Committee report, which exposed the existence of casting couch practices and other abuses in the Malayalam film industry. Many actors and members of the public are now calling for government intervention to address the accusations raised.
