'He groped...': Malayalam actor reveals horrifying sexual harassment incident
Prominent Malayalam film actor and activist, Maala Parvathi, recently shared her experiences of sexual harassment on film sets. In an interview with News18, she recounted several incidents that have left her deeply affected. One such incident took place during the shooting of the 2010 movie Apoorvaragam, where she was cast alongside a veteran actor from the Tamil film industry.
'He groped me hard,' says Parvathi about 'Apoorvaragam' incident
During a scene in Apoorvaragam, Parvathi's on-screen daughter, played by Nithya Menen, was supposed to be playfully pulling at her saree. The male actor was expected to gently touch Menen. However, he groped Parvathi instead. Recalling the incident, she said, "During the shot, he reached out with his right hand to touch Nancy (Menen), but with his left hand he groped me hard."
Parvathi took a six-month break after the incident
Following the incident, Parvathi was so shaken that she took a six-month break from acting. Her husband, Satheesh, encouraged her to return to work and not let such incidents affect her career. He said, "One should not back down. You can only win a battle when you fight it." Despite his support, the incident had a lasting impact on Parvathi's mental health and career.
Parvathi faced harassment on the sets of 'Happy Sardar'
In 2019, while working on the film Happy Sardar, Parvathi faced another disturbing incident. She had rented a caravan at her own expense to ensure a safe space on set. However, she was informed by a young co-star that the caravan had been moved and parked in a secluded area. When she reported this incident to a senior actor, he responded dismissively.
Parvathi faced retaliation for raising concerns about male crew member
Parvathi also faced retaliation when she raised concerns about a male crew member who made women uncomfortable on set. As a result, she was denied food and water. These incidents have significantly affected Parvathi's career. Once active in numerous film projects annually, she now receives fewer offers. Despite the ongoing challenges, she continues to face the repercussions of speaking out for justice and safety in the industry.
