‘Sexual harassment does not exist in Kollywood’: Tamil actor Jiiva insists Hema commission report on abuse in Malayam film industry is false (VIDEO)

TAMIL NADU, Sept 3 — Indian actor and film producer Jiiva has come under fire for insisting that sexual harassment does not exist in the Tamil film industry.

The 40-year-old lost his cool at a media event when asked about alleged sexual abuse in the Tamil industry, while dodging questions about the Hema Commission report.

The Justice Hema Committee, set up by the Kerala government after an actress assault case in 2017, has reported on workplace harassment, gender discrimination and other forms of exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry.

“I have already responded to this, I can’t keep responding,” Jiiva said before asking the journalist who asked the question if he was being sensible.

Jiiva’s reaction did not go down well with journalists. Tamil Nadu’s Theni, who saw the actor in an ensuing scuffle with a journalist present, reported India Today.

“I have heard about it too. It is wrong,” Jiiva had replied when asked about the Hema Committee Report.

“We had #MeToo part 1 and now part 2 has come. Now people are calling them (abusers) openly. That is wrong. We should have a healthy atmosphere in the cinema.”

When pressed for more, he said, “We are here for a good event, so let’s say good things. I have come to Theni after a long time.

“I came here after shooting a movie called Thenavattu. A lot is happening in many sectors,”

He then took on the media and said, “Your job is to gather news. Our job is to maintain a good atmosphere. As actors, we bring smiles to the faces of many people, and that’s why we have come here.”