Justice Hema Committee report: Actress ‘forced’ to do an intimate scene, quit the film without taking remuneration

The Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed the shocking harassment and sexual exploitation faced by women in the Malayalam film industry, continues to stir conversations across the country. The report, which sheds light on several issues women face in the industry including the casting couch, mafia, sexual harassment, and lack of basic facilities in the workplace, also brings out true accounts of the ordeal faced by many.

In the report, a witness spoke about a bitter experience she faced in the film she was playing the titular role. According to the witness, during the initial point of discussion she was informed about the film having some intimate scenes involving her. Regardless of her ‘repeated requests’ the director didn’t disclose more details of the scene. The director, however, assured them that there was nothing to be scared of and that the scenes would be filmed only according to her consent.

During one of the days of the shoot, the director informed her of the intimate scene and told her that a lip lock scene along with nudity, which involved exposing a lot of her body parts. The actress shares that she was ‘forced to do a kissing scene’ and also expose the back of her body.


As she was not interested in continuing further she decided to quit. Later she was informed that the next day, she would have to shoot for a bathtub scene with a great deal of nudity involved. The actress quit the movie without taking remuneration even though she worked three months for the film.

When the actress informed the director that she had lost faith in him and quit, he insisted she meet him in Kochi, or else he wouldn’t delete the intimate scenes. The actress later informed the same to the producer, who assured her that he would deal with the director.

The Hema Committee report observed that such instances could have been avoided if there had been a contract. “Had there been a written contract such a crisis could have been avoided. If written contracts are mandatory there will be more transparency in the dealings of such people and those with ulterior motives will be exposed,” the report reads.

Many such shocking ordeals faced by women working in various departments in the Malayalam film industry have come to light after the release of the report.