A day after Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra accused eminent Malayalam film director and chairman of government-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy Ranjith of allegedly misbehaving with her in 2009, a prominent actor on Saturday alleged that she was raped by senior artiste at a young age. “I had dreamed big when I came into the film sector. He invited me to a hotel room on the pretext of discussing a film project. I had only a professional approach. But I was trapped and he sexually abused me. It was rape… He slapped and kicked me. I had to run away from there. He is a number one criminal. Some of my friends too had similar experiences with him. I was kept away from the industry on account of this incident. He has a different face today. These people lie towards themselves. If he stands before a mirror, he can see a criminal,’’ the actor said. She said her friends had faced bad experiences from several high profile people in the industry. “We look forward to the Hema Committee report. What is important is the next step. We hope the government will give priority to this,’’ she said. Narrating the incident to the media on Friday, Sreelekha had alleged that the incident took place in 2009 when Ranjith’s film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha was under production. Referring to a meeting with Ranjith at an apartment, Sreelekha said, “He was on a phone call. There were a lot of people. He was on the phone with the cinematographer with whom I had worked. Asking me whether I want to talk to him (the cinematographer), he (Ranjith) called me to another room… the bedroom was dark. When I talked to the cinematographer over the phone, he (Ranjith) was playing with my bangles and touching my skin. We women have the sixth sense. I felt uncomfortable, but I was trying to give him the benefit of doubt. I thought I was overthinking and thought he wanted to see my bangles. I was not feeling ok with him. After realising that I was not reacting or taking back my hand, he tried to play with my neck and hair. Then, I excused myself and got out of the room. This was not shocking. I know how the film industry works by and large. There are good and bad people.’’ Denying the allegation, Ranjith said she had come for an audition and not for acting. “Filmmaker Shankar Ramakrishnan and others were present. The alleged incident did not take place. Her performance was not satisfactory and it was communicated to her. There is an ulterior agenda behind raising this controversy at this moment. If she takes any legal step, it would be countered in the same manner,’’ he told mediapersons. After the Congress-led Opposition sought Ranjith’s resignation from the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, Culture Affairs Minister Saji Cherian Saturday told mediapersons, “No action can be taken against him based on an allegation. We are for the cause of women. There should be a written complaint for any action. It is up to the party [CPI(M)] to take a decision on whether Ranjith should be removed as the chairman of the academy. Ranjith has responded to the allegation,’’ the minister said.
