Actress Sanam Shetty Claims Tamil Film Industry Troubled With Casting Couch: 'I Speak From My...'

Tamil actress Sanam Shetty claimed that Tamil film industry has problems of casting couch. The actress made the shocking claim while addressing the Hema Committee Report from Kerala. The actress spoke with the media outside the Chennai Police Commissioner office. She was at the venue to seek permission to rally to condemn crimes against women following the Kolkata rape and murder case.

As reported by Hindustan Times Tamil (and translated by Google Translations), Sanam was discussing her plans of rallying in Chennai when she was asked about the Hema Committee Report. The report features a few shocking sexual exploitation incidents in the Malayalam film industry. Speaking about it, Sanam claimed Tamil film industry also has casting couch issues.

“I don’t know the details of the Hema Committee report. But I welcome this move. I would like to thank Hema and the Government of Kerala for coming up with such a report. Such incidents are also taking place in the world of Tamil cinema. No one can say no. I am speaking from my own experience,” she said. Sanam added that people cross-question why didn’t she or the victim open up about the incident when it happened. She admitted she gets angry when such a question is asked. “I cut the phone saying I will beat you with sandal,” she said, as per the auto-translation.

“I am raising my voice against the cruel scenario that adjustment is the only way to get a chance. But not everyone in the film industry is like this. Not just women; Men also face these problems. If there is a photo opportunity only if you do adgetsmand, spit it out and go outside. We don’t want a film like this. If you believe in yourself, opportunities will follow,” she added.

The Kerala government on Monday released the much-anticipated Hema Committee report, shedding light on the systemic assault and harassment faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. The Hema Commission, led by former High Court judge Justice Hema, alongside veteran actor Sharada and retired IAS officer KB Valsala Kumari, was established in 2017 following an assault case that implicated actor Dileep. The report’s findings expose the alarming conditions within an industry often celebrated for its quality cinema.