The revelations from the Hema Committee report have sent shockwaves through the Malayalam film industry, sparking conversations that echo far beyond Kerala. The report, submitted in December 2019 following Women in Cinema Collective’s (WCC) petition in response to the 2017 actress assault case, unveiled deep-rooted issues of sexual harassment and abuse within the industry, catalysing legal actions and police complaints that have shaken the industry’s foundations. As the movement continues to push to make broader systemic changes to protect survivors, one question looms large: Should Bollywood and the Hindi TV industry consider forming a similar committee and implementing stricter laws to address these pervasive issues?
Bollywood’s #MeToo Moment: A Missed Opportunity for Lasting Change
In 2018, Bollywood experienced its own #MeToo wave when actress Tanushree Dutta accused veteran actor Nana Patekar of sexual harassment, and writer-producer Vinta Nanda came forward with allegations against Alok Nath. However, despite the initial surge of courage and confessions, the movement gradually lost momentum. Many of the men accused of misconduct continue to work with impunity, their careers seemingly unaffected by the allegations. Vinta Nanda reflects on this missed opportunity for lasting change, telling us, “I wish it hadn’t taken another five years for the movement to pick up from where it left off. The Hema Committee Report could have been instrumental in continuing the momentum and bringing about the changes that have been needed for decades. But unfortunately, the report was suppressed.”
The silence that once again envelops Bollywood on this issue is deafening. Most film actors, producers, directors and TV stars we reached out to declined to comment. However, a few brave voices spoke out, acknowledging the urgent need for difficult conversations and systemic changes.
Voices of Resistance: Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, Gulshan Devaiah, Guneet Monga, Nakuul Mehta and Tannishtha Chatterjee
TV actor Jennifer Mistry Bansiwal, best known for her role in Hindi sitcom Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, shared her own harrowing experiences with the industry’s flawed systems. After accusing her show’s producer Asit Kumar Modi of sexual harassment, she faced severe backlash, including a loss of work opportunities and financial stability. “For the last year and a half, I’ve been sitting at home… no income, no job, just sitting at home,” she told us.
“I’d been to the police station more than 70 times. I cried, I screamed, I shouted at them directly. I told them to their faces that they should be ashamed of themselves for taking bribes and just sitting there. I said, ‘You’re not filing my FIR, you’re not filing my Panchnama.’ I met the ACP, the DCP, the Joint Commissioner of Police—everywhere. I met them 2-3 times, and each time, I was made to sit for 5-6 hours,” Jennifer recounted, describing her emotional, financial and mental turmoil.
Jennifer advocates for the establishment of a dedicated committee to address these issues. “When it happened to me, I didn’t even know whether we had an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). There was no information. Establishing a committee is not just important, it’s absolutely necessary. It must happen.”
Gulshan Devaiah, a Hindi film actor known for his outspoken views, stresses the importance of engaging in these “uncomfortable conversations.” He acknowledges the challenges of addressing such sensitive topics but insists that change can only come through dialogue and mutual support. “We need to unite and not think, ‘Oh, this is happening in the Malayalam industry’ or ‘This is happening in some other industry,’…There should be a unified approach, with regulations or necessary amendments applied uniformly across all industries, bringing them under one umbrella,” he told us.
He further said the government can implement all sorts of rules, form committees and involve top experts, but real change also requires a societal shift. “We have to take it upon ourselves, and we’ll only be able to do so if we’re willing to talk about it. We may be wrong, many times I’m scared to discuss these things. I’m scared to discuss them because I worry that I might say something that offends someone. I worry that I might offend a female friend of mine, and she’ll wonder how I could say such a thing. But despite these fears, we have to have this conversation.”
Guneet Monga, an Oscar-winning film producer, emphasised the need for collective action in driving change. She stated, “It’s important to raise our voices and do it well. Change doesn’t happen with one person screaming at the top of their lungs or one person screaming about atrocities. It occurs when a group advocates for policy changes, ensures safety and sanitary facilities on film sets and establishes proper POSH committees.”
Tannishtha Chatterjee, an actor who has navigated both Bollywood and international cinema, said, “A lot of people in the Hindi film industry are supporting the movement in the Malayalam film industry. But it’s very difficult to talk about what consequences it can have here.” Reflecting on her early experiences in the industry, she admitted that she had to distance herself from some of the biggest names due to their inappropriate behaviour.
“I told myself that I’ll only work with casting directors who’re women and men who’re very professional. I started getting calls for auditions for international films where it was really about quality of working and whether you suit the part or not. But our industry has various levels of corruption,” she added.
For Nakuul Mehta, a prominent Hindi TV actor, the struggles faced by women in the Malayalam industry resonate deeply. “What these women are doing in the Malayalam industry must be recognised by all of us, men and women! I’m shook by reading up on their challenges and the struggles,” he shared with us. “Let’s attempt to read, learn, be aware, have dialogues, understand and figure out ways in which we could offer any support to these revolutions. Let not their valiant efforts be lost to humankind.”
From Kerala to Bollywood: The Call for Independent Committee to Combat Sexual Harassment
Meanwhile, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta, President of the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), has called for the formation of an independent, unbiased committee to address sexual harassment within the industry.
Gupta argued that the current system, which often involves industry insiders, is fundamentally flawed. He proposed that such committees should consist of retired army officers, IPS officers, and judges. “Individuals from the industry will never allow a case to receive the attention it deserves,” he argued, suggesting that an independent body would be more effective in ensuring justice for victims. Gupta also called for the establishment of a centralised committee under the purview of the central government to handle cases across all film industries in India, providing a consistent and reliable resource for victims.
“Additionally, the government should provide toll-free numbers that can be displayed in all film and TV sets. In case such an incident occurs, the complaint can be immediately reported to this committee,” Gupta added.
The conversations spurred by the Hema Committee report may have originated in Kerala, but they are reverberating across the entire Indian entertainment industry. As Bollywood watches the unfolding developments in the Malayalam industry, the question remains: Will it take similar steps to ensure the safety and dignity of its women? The few voices that have spoken out are a testament to the need for change, but without a concerted effort, the status quo may remain unchallenged. The time for uncomfortable conversations is now, and the industry must decide whether it will listen or continue to remain silent.
(With inputs from Titas Chowdhury)