Malayalam actress Anjali Ameer has accused Suraj Venjaramoodu of making her feel uncomfortable. Anjali is a transwoman who worked with Suraj in the Tamil film ‘Peranbu’. Released in 2018, the film also starred Mammootty in the lead.
In a recent interview with Mathrubhumi, Anjali Ameer claimed that Suraj Venjaramoodu asked her uncomfortable questions about ‘pleasure’ during the shoot of the film. She mentioned that she warned the actor and even reported the incident to Mammootty.
“I had not faced any traumatic experiences until Suraj Venjaramoodu asked me if transgender people feel the same pleasure as women. I am a strong person, but this question made me angry. I warned him and reported it to Mammootty and the director. Venjaramoodu then apologised and has never spoken to me in that manner again, which I appreciate,” she said.
Since Anjali’s comments come in the wake of the Hema Committee report, the actress also clarified that not everyone in the film industry is disrespectful. “Let me tell you, there are good people in the industry, but that doesn’t mean there are no such people who ask for compromises or favours, there are people like that too,” she shared.
What Is Hema Committee Report?
Revelations by Justice Hema Committee report have left the entire nation shocked. In 2017, a Malayalam actress actress was sexually assaulted following which the government formed a three-member commission. While it was headed by Justice K Hema (retired), former bureaucrat KB Valsalakumari and veteran actress Sharada were the other two team members.
The report, which was submitted to the government in 2019, was made available to the public earlier this week. The report investigates several aspects of the Malayalam film industry including sexual harassment, lack of basic facilities like women’s toilets and changing rooms, pay disparity and discrimination on the basis of gender.
Who Said What About Hema Committee Report?
Several actors have reacted to the shocking findings of the Hema Committee report. While Chiyaan Vikram has called the findings ‘disgusting’, Tovino Thomas also called for strict punishment. “If someone has done such a terrible thing to anyone, be it a man or a woman, they should get the deserved punishment. They shouldn’t be spared, that’s the basic thing to do. They should not just be punished but we must ensure that this doesn’t happen again. That awareness, that education system must be there so that (the workspace is safer for women),” the latter said.
Recently, Prithviraj Sukumaran also addressed the report and criticised the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) for not properly handling complaints from survivors, specifically pointing to the organisation’s lack of response to a complaint by his Avan Chandiyude Makan co-star Sridevika against director Thulasidas. “Stronger intervention and actions are needed from AMMA,” he said.
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