The Hema Committee report has sent shockwaves through the Malayalam film industry, revealing troubling issues of harassment and safety concerns for women in cinema. The report has prompted several actresses to speak out about their own experiences, shedding light on the challenges they face on film sets. One such voice is Tamil actress Radikaa Sarathkumar, who recently shared her terrifying experience involving hidden cameras in her dressing room. In a recent interview with journalists in Chennai, Radikaa revealed that she received a phone call from actor Mohanlal after she spoke out about the incident. According to Mathrubhumi, the Malayalam superstar called Radhika to see if the incident had occurred while she was on a set where he was present. Sarathkumar stated that she assured him that such an incident didn’t occur when any lead actor was present on the set. Further, Radhika Sarathkumar recounted the incident, explaining that she noticed someone on set watching footage from the hidden cameras, which led her to immediately demand action. “When I realised that people on the set were watching the hidden camera footage, I began shouting. I also contacted the production company’s authorities and demanded immediate action,” she shared. Earlier in an interview with CNN News18, Radhika Sarathkumar first talked about the hidden cameras incident. Her revelations amid the Hema Committee Report in the Malayalam film industry and the big names that have been accused of alleged misconduct have shocked everyone in the entertainment news world. The actress was quoted saying .”When I was working in a film, I was just crossing a group of four people laughing and sniggering watching a video. So my eyes automatically went that side and I saw that they were watching something inappropriate. I called one of them and asked what they were watching. He said they are watching women who are changing clothes in caravans. I was really really shocked and perturbed because it was concerning my safety now and I did not want to be seen like that by anybody. I think we were being compromised. We had an argument and then they said these are all old videos. I asked them to delete every video they had. There was nothing much I could do because I was leaving for the airport.”
Watch a video on Radikaa Sarathkumar
The #MeToo movement in Malayalam cinema has inspired female celebrities in other film industries to advocate for similar measures, such as the Hema Committee, to ensure the safety and dignity of women in the workplace. Earlier, Samantha Ruth Prabhu also encouraged the Telangana government to release a report like this that mentions the sexual assault and mistreatment faced by actresses in the Tollywood film industry.