Malavika Sreenath Addresses Viral #MeToo Video on Insta: Malayalam Actress Reveals ‘Casting Couch’ Incident Happened at Fake Audition, Urges Fans To Avoid Misinformation
Even though she had spoken about the incident a year back, Malavika Sreenath's interview went viral again on August 19, 2024, after the details of the Hema Committee report were revealed to the public for the first time.
Amid the increasing reportage of sexual assault cases against women in India and the release of the Hema Committee report, a clip of actress Malavika Sreenath has been going viral. The clip is actually from an interview Malavika Sreenath gave 24 News a year back but is now being circulated by fans who are discussing the revelations of the Hema Committee reports that range from sexual abuses of actresses to male-powered lobbies within the industry. Justice Hema Committee Report Exposes Sexual Exploitation of Women in Malayalam Film Industry; Kerala Opposition Demands Police Probe.
The viral clip had Malavika Sreenath detail her own casting couch incident when she was approached by an agent for a film. She was told that the movie has Manju Warrier in the lead and she would be auditioning for her daughter's role. The actress reveals how, during the audition, the man who was conducting it misbehaved with her and tried to sexually assault her, even though her mother and her sister were sitting outside the room. The actress revealed how she managed to escape his advances, ran out of the room and nearly collided with a bus. She also alleged that she had two or three more bad experiences with the casting couch.
Watch the Viral Clip of Malavika Sreenath on Reddit:
Malavika Sreenath about her casting couch experience
However, the actress is disappointed with the renewed circulation of the video linking it to the Hema Committee report, and people are making wrong assumptions about which movie she had auditioned for. While we went through the fan chatter, many assumed this audition was for Udaharanam Sujatha, where Manju Warrier played a working mother and had a teenage daughter, a role that Anaswara Rajan played. ‘Malayalam Film Industry Ruled by Mafia’: Justice K Hema Committee’s Report Exposes Abuse, Casting Couch, and Discrimination Against Women.
Malavika Sreenath's Statement on Instagram Regarding Her Casting Couch Incident
In a statement on Instagram, Malavika revealed it was for a fake audition ten years back. She wrote, "Please stop spreading false information. The video clip currently circulating is just a small part of an interview, and many people haven't watched the entire interview or understood the real incident. The experience I shared happened 10 years ago, long before I entered the film industry, and it involved individuals who were not related to cinema, conducting a fake audition for financial gain. My video has no connection with the current issues being discussed. I request everyone to stop sharing the clip for attention and to stop spreading fake news. I have no role in the ongoing issues."
Check Out Malavika Sreenath's Statement on IG:
While the clip is definitely being misinterpreted, we would still request that you watch the whole interview, as the actress clearly elucidates the importance of awareness of sexual harassment incidents and the need for an organisation like WCC (Women in Cinema Collective) in the Malayalam film industry.
Watch the Whole Interview Here:
What Malavika Sreenath Had Said In Her Old Interview
Malavika Sreenath, born in 1997, who is very popular on Instagram, has acted in films like Madhuram, Saturday Night Fever and Kasargold. In the above interview, she was quoted saying, "Three years back, I was called to audition for a role in a Manju Warrier film. The audition was for the role of Manju Warrier’s daughter. It was only later that I learned that those who auditioned me were not part of the film. I was excited about getting a chance to work with Manju Warrier. I had no contacts in the film field, so I could not check if the offer was genuine. My mom, I, and my sister were taken to the audition in an Innova."
When she was given her audition, the man in the room asked her to go to the makeup room and change her hairstyle. She continued, "While I was adjusting my hair in the room, he came and held me from the back. He was a big, tall man. We often say – ‘Why didn’t you react at that moment?’ or ‘Why didn’t you push the person and run?’ But at times, we are unable to react. We are paralysed with fear. I was very young. When he caught hold of me, I began shivering. I tried to push him away with my elbow. Then the person said, ‘Malavika, if you give in, people will see you next as Manju Warrier’s daughter.’ He said, ‘You don’t need to do anything. Let your mom and sister sit outside. You just need to stand here for 10 minutes.’ I began crying. I did not know what to do. The person had a camera which he was using to shoot. I tried to knock down the camera from his hand. While he got distracted and tried to retrieve the camera, I ran out of the room crying. My mother and sister did not understand why I was crying." It is certainly a traumatic incident and we are glad the actress has come out of it with a grittier determination to make it big in the industry.
Women and Child Helpline Numbers:
Childline India – 1098; Missing Child and Women – 1094; Women’s Helpline – 181; National Commission for Women Helpline – 112; National Commission for Women Helpline Against Violence – 7827170170; Police Women and Senior Citizen Helpline – 1091/1291.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2024 03:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).