A recent Hema Committee report exposing the harsh working conditions and widespread sexual harassment faced by women in the Malayalam film industry is shaking up India’s entertainment sector. However, most of the solidarity has come from women, with the conspicuous silence of powerful male stars drawing criticism.
The Hema Committee report, based on testimonies from 51 individuals in Kerala’s film industry, reveals decades of exploitation. It details how women were often pressured into providing sexual favors to secure work, and constantly told to “compromise and adjust.” The panel was established in 2017 after the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) petitioned the government following the sexual assault of a leading actress, allegedly orchestrated by a prominent male actor.
The 290-page report, released in August with portions redacted for anonymity, has led to several women coming forward with their stories. Over a dozen police complaints have been filed against actors, producers, and directors. In response, the Kerala government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate the claims, and the Kerala high court has tasked the SIT with following up on the cases in the report, raising hopes for justice for the survivors.
The issue of sexual exploitation, such as the casting couch, is not limited to Malayalam cinema. Women across Indian film industries, including Bollywood, have spoken out about sexual harassment. Film critic Shubhra Gupta points out that the problem runs deep across all Indian cinemas, and that nearly every female performer has faced it at some point.
The revelations from the Hema Committee report have sparked widespread debate, even prompting calls for reform in regional film industries, such as those in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka. In Telangana, there has been pressure to release a long-pending report on the Telugu film industry, which was initiated after actress Sri Reddy protested by stripping in public in 2018 to highlight sexual exploitation. West Bengal has also set up an inquiry into allegations of abuse in the Bengali film industry.
Despite this, the response from male actors has been notably lacking. Malayalam superstars Mohanlal and Mammootty have acknowledged the report but warned against actions that could damage the industry. Tamil actor-politicians Kamal Haasan and Vijay have remained silent, while Rajinikanth faced backlash for claiming ignorance of the report days after its release. In Bollywood, the biggest male stars—Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Akshay Kumar—have yet to address the issue.
Shubhra Gupta notes that the silence from these powerful men is not surprising. While there was some initial momentum in Bollywood during the #MeToo movement in 2018, little has changed. Male actors faced no lasting consequences, while many of the women who spoke out have struggled to find work.
