16 september 2024 : Actor Rohini, recently appointed by Nadigar Sangam as chairperson of a committee to handle sexual harassment complaints, has filed a complaint against Dr. Kantharaj for his remarks about female actors and the casting couch in the film industry.
In a recent YouTube interview with My India 24×7, Dr. Kantharaj made controversial statements suggesting that female actors ‘adjust’ with male actors, directors, and other industry professionals to secure roles. He also criticized them for falling into the casting couch trap and claimed that actors were aware of such issues but only complained about them years later.
Rohini’s complaint, submitted to Police Commissioner A Arun and forwarded to the cybercrime unit, argues that Dr. Kantharaj’s comments tarnish the image of women in the film industry. She has requested that the police take criminal action against him and remove the video from YouTube. Rohini condemned the statements, stating they not only insult actors but also mislead aspiring women in the industry.
The complaint follows the recent Hema Committee report in Kerala, which exposed sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry. The report led to several actors, including Parvathy Thiruvothu, Radhika Sarathkumar, and Kushboo, sharing their experiences of abuse. In response, Nadigar Sangam in Tamil Nadu established the Vishakha Committee to investigate sexual harassment in cinema, with Rohini appointed as chairperson.
Rohini, who began her career with the 1974 Telugu film Harathi and was last seen in Mathu Vadalara 2 (Telugu), Dear (Tamil), and Ajayante Randam Moshanam (Malayalam), is set to appear in Rajinikanth’s upcoming film Vettaiyan.