Salman Khan’s ex-girlfriend exposes Bollywood’s ‘family men’ amid Malayalam sex scandal

The shocking findings of the Hema Committee Report have left the Malayalam industry in tatters. The report has exposed some of the most horrific cases of sexual exploitation in Mollywood. Former actress Somy Ali recently reacted to the controversial findings and revealed that she too had encountered many unwelcome characters during her stint in Bollywood.

In an interview with the Hindustan TimesThe actress said she could empathize with the victims because she was active in Bollywood at a time when women were silenced if they tried to speak out about the abuse they faced. “While my experience in Bollywood in the late 1990s was not exactly the same as the circumstances that women faced in the Malayalam film industry, it was profoundly shaped by a toxic environment that often silenced or punished women for speaking out,” she told HT.

Walk of Shame

The actress revealed that she has seen many starlets trying to leave their hotel rooms unnoticed after being exploited by powerful men in the industry. “I have personally experienced #MeToo incidents where I was warned that a visit to a particular man’s suite was essential if I wanted to advance in my career. I have also seen the heartbreaking ‘walk of shame’ – women, disheveled and in distress, leaving their hotel rooms early in the morning after being exploited by some of Bollywood’s biggest actors, including those who were publicly seen as devoted family men,” she said.

Ali said she faced severe discouragement and silence when she tried to speak out. “At the time, the industry offered little support to women who stood up to harassment or wanted to assert their independence. The challenges I faced made it clear that my voice was not valued as it should have been. This, combined with my growing passion for social justice and desire to make a difference, led me to move to the United States and focus on my work with No More Tears,” she told HT.

Ali, who is an ex-girlfriend of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, spoke candidly about her complicated relationship with the actor. She said that while the ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ star had been generous when it came to helping her charities, he was not as forthcoming when she tried to speak out against domestic violence.

“Salman has contributed to my charity work and I am grateful for that. However, his support has not been consistent, especially when it comes to the more difficult aspects of my work which shed light on issues like domestic violence,” she said. The actress also touched on the death of ’90s icon Divya Bharti and implied that she was going through an incredibly difficult time. “Divya told me that she was under immense pressure due to certain disturbing circumstances, including being subjected to sex trafficking. She was in deep trouble and said that there were plans to travel abroad, which she was extremely afraid of,” she said.

When Ali accused Salman of domestic violence

Ali once shared cryptic messages about her time with the ‘Bodyguard’ star. She later deleted them. In an interview with NDTVshe said, “The eight years I spent with him were the worst years of my entire existence. In addition to the many affairs and flings, he would constantly put me down by calling me ugly, stupid and dumb. Not a day went by that he didn’t make me feel worthless and small,” she revealed.

She also said that the ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ actor did not acknowledge their relationship for a long time. “He did not want to acknowledge me as his girlfriend in public for years, and when he finally did, he insulted me in front of his friends and called me names non-stop. I have no qualms in saying that given the way he treated me, I chose to have affairs, which is essentially defined as a search for someone who would care for me and love me,” she said. NDTV.

Ali was in a relationship with Khan for nine years (1991-1999), before moving to Florida, US, to pursue further studies.