The recent revelations from the Hema Committee report have once again cast a spotlight on the deeply rooted issue of sexual harassment within the Indian film industry. The report, which exposes the extent of harassment women face in the Malayalam film industry, has ignited calls for a broader examination of toxic practices across all Indian film industries. In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, former Bollywood actor Somy Ali shared her experiences from the 1990s, shedding light on the pervasive challenges women face in the entertainment world and discussing her transition to founding No More Tears, an organisation dedicated to aiding survivors of domestic abuse.
The Hema Committee report highlights the troubling reality that women who dared to speak out against sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry were often allegedly penalised by losing job opportunities. Somy Ali, who, although did not face identical circumstances, said that she found herself in a similarly hostile environment during her time in Bollywood in the late 1990s.
“The findings of the Hema Committee report are both disheartening and, unfortunately, all too familiar to women in the entertainment industry, not just in Kerala but across the world,” Somy Ali said. “While my experience in Bollywood during the late 1990s was not exactly identical to the circumstances faced by the women in the Malayalam film industry, it was deeply shaped by a toxic environment that often silenced women or punished them for speaking out.”
Somy Ali’s account provided a stark insight into the realities of working in Bollywood during that era. She recalled the culture of silence and intimidation that many women in the industry had to navigate. “I personally encountered #MeToo incidents where I was warned that visiting a certain man’s suite was necessary if I wanted to advance in my career,” she says.
The exploitation wasn’t just behind closed doors — it was in plain sight, with little consequence for the perpetrators. “I’ve also witnessed the heartbreaking ‘walk of shame’—women, disheveled and distressed, leaving hotel suites early in the morning after being exploited by some of the biggest actors in Bollywood, including individuals publicly seen as committed family men,” she added.
The lack of support for women who stood against harassment eventually drove Somy Ali to seek a different path. “At that time, the industry offered little support to women who stood up against harassment or sought to assert their independence. The challenges I faced made it clear that my voice wasn’t valued as it should have been,” she explained. This realisation, combined with her growing passion for social justice, led her to leave India and establish herself in the United States, where she founded No More Tears, an organisation dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
Reflecting on her journey, Somy Ali’s story underscored the need for systemic reform across the film industry. “My experience is just one of many, and the situation for women in the film industry—whether in Kerala or elsewhere—underscores the urgent need for systemic change,” she asserted. She hopes that the findings of the Hema Committee report will serve as a catalyst for such change, ensuring that “the industry protects and empowers women and men who are victimised, so that they can work without fear of retribution.”
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