Malayalam #MeToo: RGV calls for a Bollywood probe

Indian cinema has been rocked by shocking revelations following the Hema Committee report, detailing rampant sexual abuse within the Malayalam film industry. In the wake of the findings, Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma took to X to question whether the rest of Bollywood is also covering up similar crimes.

"If [the] Malayalam film industry has been exposed by the Hema Committee, which has been constituted only for the Malayalam industry, then unless committees are formed for each of the other language industries, how will one know what's happening there?" wrote Varma.

As per the Economic Times, the Justice Hema Committee was initially constituted by the Kerala government in 2017 after an assault reported by an actor. Amidst allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against several actors and directors, the state government announced the establishment of a seven-member special investigation team on August 25.

According to the Deccan Chronicle, multiple women within the industry have stepped forward to speak up against prominent Malayalam actors and directors in Bollywood's version of #MeToo. The 235-page redacted report is said to contain various accounts of sexual harassment, ill-treatment towards women, and how they are exploited in the workplace.

As a Bollywood veteran who has made a firm name for himself with horror hits such as Raat (1991) and Bhoot (2003), Varma is well placed to ask tough questions from an industry he has been a part of for decades, and his X post resonated with his followers.

"It's important to ensure transparency and accountability across all industries, regardless of language or region," wrote one fan, acknowledging Varma's post. "By addressing issues in one industry, it can pave the way for similar investigations and improvements in others. Each industry should have mechanisms in place to monitor and address any concerns to ensure a fair and ethical environment for all involved."