As the Malayalam film industry grapples with a fresh wave of #MeToo revelations, actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar has voiced her strong support for the Justice K Hema Committee, describing it as “much needed” to address the widespread abuse faced by female professionals in cinema. The committee, appointed by the Kerala government following the 2017 actress assault case, recently made public its 235-page report, highlighting numerous instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the industry.
Taking to her official X (formerly Twitter) account, Khushbu Sundar shared her thoughts on the prevailing #MeToo movement, stating, “The ‘MeToo’ moment prevailing in our industry breaks you,” while urging women not to compromise on their safety and dignity.
“Kudos to the women who have stood their ground and emerged victorious,” Sundar wrote in a heartfelt post on X, acknowledging the courage of those who have come forward. She also addressed the pervasive issue of abuse and exploitation, emphasizing that it is not confined to the film industry alone.
“Abuse, asking for sexual favors, and expecting women to compromise to gain a foothold or accelerate their careers exist in every field. Why is a woman alone expected to go through the grind? Although men too face it, it’s marginally women who bear the brunt,” she added.
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Khushbu Sundar further highlighted the challenges women face in speaking out against such abuse, including the fear of being shamed or blamed. “The victim might be a stranger to you or me, but she needs our support, an ear to listen, and emotional backing,” she urged.
Reflecting on her own experiences, Khushbu Sundar shared the trauma of being abused by her father, which she first spoke about last year. “I agree I should have spoken earlier. But what happened to me, was not a compromise to build my career. I was abused at the hands of the person who was supposed to provide me the strongest arms to hold me if I fell,” she revealed.
Khushbu Sundar, who is also a member of the National Commission for Women (NCW), recounted a disturbing incident from her early days in South Indian cinema.
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Speaking to a media channel on Wednesday, she described how a producer, possibly assuming she would “succumb to the pressure,” approached her with inappropriate intentions. “He gave me kind of a hint when he walked into my makeup room when I was shooting for a Telugu film. I removed my slippers and told him I wear 41 (the size). Do you want to take a whack right here or do you want me to hit you in front of the unit? And that put him in place,” she said, stressing the importance of women standing up for themselves in such situations.
Khushbu Sundar also called on men to support women in the fight against abuse and harassment, noting, “Because we women work in an atmosphere thinking probably men around us would be there to support us and protect us. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen at times.”
As the Malayalam film industry continues to navigate the repercussions of the Justice Hema Committee’s findings, voices like Khushbu Sundar’s are essential in fostering a safer and more equitable environment for women in cinema and beyond.
