Ranjith denies allegations made by actress Sreelekha Mitra

In a latest development, prominent Malayalam film director Ranjith has dismissed the allegations made against him by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra. This comes in the wake of the controversial Hema Committee report that has caused a stir in the Malayalam film industry.

While confirming that Sreelekha attended the auditions for his movie ‘Paleri Manikyam’, which stars Mammootty in the lead role, Ranjith, in an interview with a news channel, denied any wrongdoing on his part.

Ranjith’s response follows Sreelekha’s shocking revelations, made just hours earlier, in which she alleged that Ranjith, who is currently the Chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, made sexual advances towards her during the auditions for ‘Paleri Manikyam’.

Meanwhile, film director Joshy Joseph told ‘Mathrubhumi News’ that Sreelekha had informed him of the incident years ago, when it originally occurred.

"I was in Kolkata for over 20 years, which is how I knew Sreelekha. I recommended her for the Ranjith movie. I still remember that one day when I was in Kochi, I received a phone call from the actress. Even she was in the city that day. Over the phone, a panicked Sreelekha asked me to come to the hotel where she was staying immediately. When I arrived, I found that she was deeply disturbed. She then told me she felt that Malayali men considered women who smoke cigarettes as being readily 'available'. She went on to recount her ordeal and her negative experience with Ranjith. Prominent figures, including Fr. Augustine Vattoly and writer K.R. Meera, are also aware of the incident," Joshy Joseph stated.