Ranjith Resigns As Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chairman After Accusations Of 'Misbehaviour' By Actor

Ranjith, Malayalam film director and Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chairman, who was accused of misconduct by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra, has resigned from his position, as per news agency ANI. This comes on a day when veteran actor Siddique resigned as the General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists. An actress alleged that she was "mentally and physically abused" by him at a young age.

Ranjith resigns from Kerala Chalachitra Academy

Ranjith, who denied the allegations, claiming he is the “real victim” in the situation, resigned from his post on Sunday, reported by news agency ANI. “Filmmaker Ranjith resigns as Kerala Chalachitra Academy Chair following sexual assault allegations: Kerala Cultural Minister Office,” read the post. 

The CPI, a key ally of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), has joined calls for a thorough investigation into the claims made by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra.

Sreelekha Mitra accuses Ranjith of misconduct

The actress recounted an incident from years ago, which resurfaced in light of the Hema Committee's findings. Mitra detailed her experience to PTI in Kolkata, saying, “The person concerned (Ranjith) is a big name in Malayalam film industry and a national award winning director. I went to his residence to discuss an upcoming film project and I did not like his behaviour. He made certain advances subtly and I felt uncomfortable while we were discussing the script.” She emphasized that she had made her disapproval clear and left the residence the following day.

Mitra also expressed concern about whether other female actors in the industry had faced similar situations, suggesting that Ranjith’s influence might have silenced them. She stressed that women should have the courage to speak out against harassment and hoped for a reduction in such misconduct.

For the unversed, Ranjith is known for directing hit movies such as Thirakkatha, Indian Rupee and more.