Even as several survivors of the sexual harassment and assault, perpetrated by some of the well-known faces in Malayalam cinema, have come out demanding justice, actor and BJP politician Khushbu Sundar has expressed support for and solidarity with these artists.
In a social media post, Khushbu Sundar revealed that she too is the victim of sexual abuse by her father.
Observing that demand for sexual favours exists in every field, she asked, "Why is a woman alone expected to go through the grind?"
Hailing the women of Malayalam cinema who spoke up about the abuse they faced, she said "#HemaCommittee was much needed to break the abuse."
"These acts of brutality shake the foundations of our trust, our love, and our strength. Behind every mother, there's a will to nurture and protect, and when that sanctity is shattered, it affects us all."
In a long post, she also spoke about the sexual abuse she faced from her father.
"Some ask me what took me so long to speak about my father's abuse. I agree I should have spoken earlier. But what happened to me, was not a compromise to build my career. I was abused at the hands of the person who was suppose to provide me the strongest arms to hold me if I fell," she wrote.
Khushbu said she stands with all the women who have been through sexual abuse and harassment as “a mother and as a woman.”
"Those who sit in front of the camera and speak about women, especially women actors, and say they live without any dignity or succeed only because they compromise, are the ones who probably are masters in pimping or run a brothel house," Khushbu said in another tweet.
In what is being hailed as the #MeToo moment in Mollywood, allegations have been levelled against several high-profile names, including director Ranjith and actors Siddique and Mukesh, in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry.
The release of the report and the revelations that followed have led to people from other industries demanding such an audit in their industries as well.
Bollywood actor actor Swara Bhasker, in a social media post, said, "Are other language industries in India even talking about such things? Until we don't face the uncomfortable truths we all know exist all around us, the brunt of existing abuses of power will continue to be borne by those who are vulnerable..."