Bengaluru: Though she said that she has not had any bad experiences in the Malayalam film industry during her acting days, yesteryear actress and former MP Sumalatha stated that she has heard of many women having such experiences, some of whom have shared their stories with her.

 “Power groups exist in all industries. Women's safety should be ensured in cinema, and the central and state governments should take it seriously,” she said.

“Congratulations to WCC (Women in Cinema Collective), as it marks an important moment in history. These were all open secrets, but now things have changed with many women coming forward and speaking out openly,” she added.

“Many of the sets where I worked during my career were like family. But I have heard very scary stories from the Malayalam film industry. Many women have privately told me that they were sexually harassed. Men would ask them to cooperate in exchange for opportunities. If they refused, they would be harassed by these men,” Sumalatha said. In those days, women were afraid to speak up about their trauma, and those who did were often portrayed negatively. “Now, things have changed for the better,” she remarked.

“I have never faced such incidents myself, but I cannot deny that they occur on cinema sets. Many people have opened up about their traumatic experiences to me. I have heard stories about men knocking on the doors of hotel rooms where actresses were staying. We must react strongly against such behavior,” Sumalatha said.

“There are power groups in all industries. Are there such groups in politics as well? Above all, it is crucial to enact proper laws to address atrocities against women in the industry and ensure stringent punishment for those who violate these laws,” she added.

Sumalatha is known for her roles in Malayalam films New Delhi and Thoovanathumbikal, among others.