Malayalam Actress Gayatri Varsha On Hema Committee Report: “Had Bad Experiences, Lost Chances”

Malayalam actress Gayathri Varsha, while reacting to the Hema Committee report, stated that she has had bad experiences in the film industry and has missed several opportunities as a result. “Many opportunities are lost because of the opposition to these advances,” the actress told Malayalam 24 News. She also added that complaints are not given the proper attention they deserve.

Gayathri Varsha further stated on the Malayalam news channel that the allegations against director Ranjith should be investigated.

The actress also told 24 News that there will be more reactions to the issue and that women have become a little more courageous.

After the reports on Hema Committee revelations started coming out, Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra has also come out with a serious accusation against Ranjith, the chairman and director of Chalachitra Academy, by claiming that the director misbehaved with her when she came to Kerala for an audition for a role in ‘Paleri Manikyam’ by Ranjith in 2009-10. The actress also said that she spent an entire night at a hotel in fear.

The Bengali actress had then narrated the incident to the documentary director Joshey. But no one contacted her later, or asked about it and she came to know that no action was taken against the popular director Ranjith, the actress said. Ms Mitra alleged she was denied the opportunity only because she reacted to his bad behaviour and reported it to someone, she said.

“He didn’t even give me the money to go back home,” the actress said while adding that she returned home the next day alone. “The women who have confronted atrocities should come forward with complaints, and reveal the names of the culprits, committees like the ‘Hema Committee’ should be formed in other languages as well,” she added.

However, director Ranjith denied the allegations and said Ms Mitra had come to the audition for Manikyam. He added that the actress was not considered because she was not suitable for the role, and told Asianet News that he did not misbehave with the actress.

The Hema Committee report, on the issues actors and supporting technicians face in the Malayalam film industry, was released last week after it was submitted four years ago. Since then, both the general public and many actors have been demanding action from the government on the accusations mentioned in the report. The report has revealed that casting couch and various other forms of malpractices are existent in the industry.