‘Should have spoken earlier’: Khushbu Sundar on father’s abuse during #MeToo moment in Malayalam cinemas

Actress and politician Khushbu Sundar said on Wednesday that she should have spoken out about her father’s abuse much earlier, a revelation she made last year.

“I was abused by the person who should have given me the strongest arms to hold me if I fell,” she tweeted.

“Some ask me why it took me so long to speak out about my father’s abuse. I agree that I should have spoken out sooner. But what happened to me was not a compromise to build my career,” she wrote.

In 2023, Sundar revealed that she was abused by her father at the age of eight and that she rebelled at the age of 15, after which her father abandoned the family.

Her post comes in the wake of the actress’ 2017 case, an investigation and report by the Kerala government-appointed Justice Hema Committee that exposed cases of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry. It also exposed the exploitation and abuse of women, leading to many female actors coming forward with allegations of harassment by their male colleagues and other men in the film industry.

The BJP leader also supported the committee and said it was “badly needed” to put an end to the abuse faced by women professionals in Malayalam cinema.

In her post, Sundar also called on women not to compromise and men to stand up for victims of sexual harassment.

“This moment when MeToo has the upper hand in our industry, breaks you. Kudos to the women who stood their ground and emerged victorious. The Hema committee was desperately needed to break through the abuse. But will that happen?”, Sundar wrote on X.

“To all the men out there, I implore you to stand with the victim and show your unwavering support. Every man is born of a woman who endured incredible pain and sacrifice. Many women play an indispensable role in raising you and shaping you into the person you are today – your mothers, sisters, aunts, teachers and friends,” her post read.

“Abuse, asking for sexual favors, and expecting women to compromise to gain a foothold or accelerate their careers are prevalent in every field. Why is a woman expected to go through the grind alone? While men face it too, it is only marginally women who bear the brunt,” Sundar tweeted.

“The fear of being shamed, victim blaming and questions like ‘why did you do it’ or ‘what made you do it’ break the woman,” she wrote.

“The victim may be a stranger to you or me, but she needs our support, a listening ear and emotional support from all of us. When we wonder why she didn’t come out sooner, we need to consider her circumstances – not everyone has the privilege to speak out,” her post read.

The BJP leader also said she believes that society can pave the way for a safer world by standing together.

“Remember that we are stronger together, and only together can we heal these wounds and pave the way for a safer, more compassionate world,” she wrote.

“Let us understand that many women do not even have the support of their families. They come from small towns with stars in their eyes, hoping to shine brightly, but often their dreams are nipped in the bud and crushed,” her post read.

On August 25, following allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against several actors and directors, the Kerala government announced the formation of a seven-member special investigation team.

Subsequently, many complaints were received, which caused a great stir in the Malayalam film industry.