The Hema Committee report, which has highlighted issues like sexual harassment, lack of basic facilities, gender bias, and pay disparities in the Malayalam film industry, is still making waves.

On Sunday, Rajinikanth was asked to comment on it. In a video shared by Polimer News, the Tamil superstar was asked if a similar committee should be set up to explore exploitation in the Tamil film industry. The actor first asked the reporter to repeat the question; when she said, “Hema Committee, Malayalam,” he replied, “I don’t know anything about that. Sorry,” with a smile.

Actor Samantha and the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) have asked the Telangana government to publish a similar report on the Telugu film industry. WCC had submitted findings two years ago but the government is yet to respond.

Filmmaker B Unnikrishnan, general secretary, Film Employees Federation of Kerala, has said that it’s undeniable that “strong alliances” exist between production houses with certain directors, writers and actors but they “are based on commercial interests”.

He added that denying the existence of casting couch in the Malayalam film industry would be “denying reality”. “This issue exists in every industry. We should take a stand against this practice in Malayalam cinema. While we might wish for a perfect, utopian future, achieving that ideal is very challenging,” he told Matrubhumi.

Actor Sreelekha Mitra has withdrawn from a seminar in Kochi (Kerala) which has now been cancelled. This comes after her allegations of sexual harassment against Malayalam director Ranjith.

She wrote on Instagram, “I had been hounded by press media across country narrating the said incident over n over n over again which took a heavy toll on me as it did back here when I took names of #bengalifilmindustry who’s who ..REMEMBER?”

Mitra added that she was “done giving any justification to anyone for my said act”, and concluded, “I needed a breather as I have my right to live My Life according to My Choice... I HAVE DONE MY BIT NOW LET ME BE.”

Actor Jiiva got into a scuffle with a reporter after being asked to comment on the report. When prodded about sexual harassment in the Tamil film industry, he said, ”Such issues don’t happen in the Tamil industry; they only happen in Kerala.”

Singer Chinmayi Sripada, who has alleged abuse at the hands of lyricist Vairamuthu in the past, shared Jiiva’s clip on X, writing, “I really do not understand how they are saying sexual harassment does not exist in Tamil Industry. HOW?! (sic)”