Teary-eyed Sonia Malhar says, 'I was promised Rs 3 lakh but received nothing' amid husband's death

Actress Sonia Malhar, who has publicly accused a prominent young Malayalam actor of serious misconduct, has opened up about the challenges she has faced in the industry.

In an interview with Mathrubhumi News, Sonia revealed the difficulties she encountered, emphasizing how her refusal to comply with unethical demands led to significant personal and professional setbacks.

Sonia recounted her struggles, saying, "I was promised Rs 3 lakh for a 30-day shoot of a movie, but I haven't received a single rupee. The film was directed by someone affiliated with Raj Bhavan, and I was the central character. The producer was my friend."

She described a period of financial distress, saying, "It was around the time my husband passed away, and I was struggling to pay rent. There was no formal contract in place. Had I been willing to compromise, I might have had more opportunities."

Sonia also discussed a specific incident involving a project she worked on in Palakkad, where she spent Rs 7,000 on fuel and was initially promised a role in a film. However, she was later replaced by another actress, and the movie was eventually scrapped.

"I spent Rs 7000 on fuel to travel to work in the movie Vasavadatta in Palakkad. The first poster of the movie featured me. It was a good story. One day the director called and said that Sonia was not suitable for the film. Ineya was cast instead of me. It was later learned that Inya dropped that project. That movie never happened.

There are people who do a lot of dirty things. Some people say that women who have given birth should take a photo of their abdomen to see if they have stretch marks," she claimed. 

Sonia also made serious allegations against a young actor, claiming he groped her during a 2013 incident in Thodupuzha. "I was new to the industry and was given a role as office staff. The actor, whom I had just met, inappropriately touched me without consent," she said. "When I expressed my discomfort and refused to act in the film, he responded by saying he liked me and acted as though he was proposing. I was terrified and pushed him away. Although he later apologized, I shared my experience to highlight that the exploitation of women in the industry must stop."