In the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report, which was released by the Kerala government in August 2024, renowned actress Neena Gupta shared her candid thoughts about the safety and treatment of women in the Malayalam film industry. The report highlights significant issues, including discrimination, exploitation, and the pervasive casting couch culture faced by women in the industry.
In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Gupta voiced her scepticism about the effectiveness of such committees in driving real change. “I’m sorry, I’m going to be very pessimistic about it. I don’t think it will happen in our country,” she stated. Gupta emphasised the difficulty of ensuring women’s safety, saying, “Women have to travel alone at night, ride in buses alone. What will you do? Will you give someone to every girl?”
She expressed deep concern for women across India, noting, “There are so many women in this country. I also thought I would volunteer, but what will I see? I am not safe myself. I am very hurt and I am very sad that women’s safety measures are not working. Until our society doesn’t change, it will not happen. It will take hundreds of years to bring that change.”
The Justice Hema Committee, established by the Kerala government in July 2017, aimed to address these troubling issues within the film industry. The committee is led by former Kerala High Court judge K. Hema, along with retired IAS officer K.B. Valsalakumari and renowned actor T. Sarada. The report, approved for release by the Kerala High Court, underscores the lack of basic amenities on film sets, pay disparities, and the ostracism faced by women who refuse to comply with exploitative demands.
Work-Front
Despite the challenges highlighted in the report, Gupta remains committed to her work and is currently starring in the Malayalam web series “1000 Babies”, available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Additionally, she is set to appear in Anurag Basu’s upcoming film “Metro In Dino”.
As the conversation around women’s safety and rights in the entertainment industry gains momentum, Neena Gupta’s candid remarks shed light on the pressing need for societal change and effective measures to protect women in all spheres of life.