Sreenivasan Comes in Support of Dileep in Malayalam Actress Assault Case; Also Slams WCC for Making ‘False’ Allegations of Exploitation

The controversy over Dileep's involvement in the Malayalam actress sexual assault case refuses to die down. Now another prominent Malayalam celebrity has come out in defence of the accused actor. Sreenivasan, popular actor and scriptwriter, has given out a statement where he has defended Dileep in the case, claiming that the actor can never do such a thing. Sreenivasan said this in his first media interaction post his heart surgery. Malayalam Actor Sreenivasan Hospitalised After Suffering From Chest Pain, Shifted to Ventilator Support.

During a promotional campaign for his upcoming film, Kuttimama (also starring his younger son, Dhyan), Sreenivasan was giving an interview to Manorama News where he was asked about Dileep. To which, he replied, "The Dileep I know won’t spend even 1.5 paise for such a matter." This was in reference to being asked if Dileep had paid Rs 1.5 crore to Pulsar Suni, the main accused in the kidnapping and assaulting the actress in 2016.

Sreenivasan and Dileep have acted in quite a few movies like Ishtam, Vismayam, Megham, Passenger, Love 24x7, et al. Dileep had also produced Sreenivasan's son Vineeth's first directorial, Malarvadi Arts Club, in which Sreenivasan also had a cameo. Popular stars like Nivin Pauly and Aju Varghese had made their debut in the movie. Supreme Court Stays Trial Against Dileep in the Malayalam Actress Assault 2017 Case.

Coming back to the interview, Sreenivasan also slammed the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) in Malayalam industry for their allegations that there is exploitation against female actors and unequal pay. Sreenivasan claims that such things never existed in Malayalam cinema. He said, "There is no exploitation of women in cinema. Men and women are equal. Pay depends on a star's market value. How many male actors earn as much as Nayantara? These statements are not directed to destroy any organisation. I'll refrain from speaking more since some matters need to be discussed within certain limits."

WCC has been formed with the Malayam actors' body, Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), following the assault incident. Dileep who had been a prominent part in AMMA had been suspended from AMMA when he was arrested for his alleged involvement in the case. However, some of the actors came out in support of the star when he was in jail, and there were talks to reinstate him when he got bail. However, WCC protested this idea, and Dileep himself refused to join the organisation, till he proves his innocence. He continues to play the lead in movies, though.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 07, 2019 01:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).