Actress Amala Paul comes out against Susi Ganesan; Kollywood #MeToo row intensifies

Actress Amala Paul has issued a statement in support of writer and director Leena Manimekalai, who had earlier alleged sexual harassment by director Susi Ganesan. Paul, in a statement on Twitter, said that Ganesan was a man "who has a twisted set of values and utterly low respect for women." She said she was subjected to "double meaning talks, misrepresented offers, and unchivalrous bodily contact."

Earlier, Manimekalai had alleged that Ganesan forced Manimekalai to go to his house, and let her go only after she pulled a knife and threatened to hurt herself.

According to Paul, after her tweet supporting Manimekalai, she received a call from Susi Ganesan and his wife. "Just got the shock of my life! @DirectorSusi & @sgmanjari called &I picked up to explain the stand. While I was trying to pacify his wife; Susi strted abusing me&to my surprise his wife strted laughing&they both joined to slut shame me. De feel de can scare me with dese tactics (sic)," she wrote.

Actor Siddharth, who has been a vocal supporter of #MeToo, said that Susi Ganesan had called his aged father to threaten after he extended his support to Manimekalai.

Susi Ganesan's wife Manjari had claimed on Twitter that Manimekalai was a "#MeToo fraud a humiliation to this movement".