RGV calls for sector-wide committees to address harassment

Maverick director Ram Gopal Varma urged other film industries to form similar committees to improve working conditions for women. He wrote on X. “If the Malayalam film industry has been exposed by the Hema committee, which was formed only for the Malayalam industry, how will one know what is happening there unless committees are formed for each of the other language industries?”

Earlier, the Justice Hema Committee inquiry had revealed cases of sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam industry. Several actresses have recently come forward with cases of harassment by prominent Malayalam actors and directors and victims have also filed complaints with the police.

The Hema committee shed light on the negative aspects of the Malayalam film industry. However, maverick filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma argues that the overall state of the Indian film industry will remain unknown unless other film industries set up similar committees.

He suggested that other film industries establish similar committees to improve working conditions for women.