English Vinglish Actor Adil Hussain Reacts To Hema Committee Report: We Must Take Action

English Vinglish fame Adil Hussain, in a recent interview, reacted strongly to the findings of the Hema Committee Report. The 235-page report exposes the systematic sexual abuse and misconduct faced by women in Malayalam cinema over the years. On August 19, the Justice Hema Committee handed over the redacted report to the State government without mentioning the names of the accused and victims. Following this, a massive #MeToo uproar began in Mollywood and is now seeing effects in other film industries as well.

Adil Hussain shares his reactions on the findings of the Hema Committee Report 

In a recent interview, Adil Hussain shared his astonishment at the findings of the Hema Committee Report. He asserted that steps should be taken for the safety of women, especially in cinema. He stressed on the importance of learning basic human rights for every individual.

In an interview with Bollywood Life, Adil shared, “The Hema Committee Report is crucial, and we must take action to ensure a safe, respectful, and dignified work environment, especially in the film industry. If artists can't respect basic human rights, it's extremely disgraceful and unacceptable.” He added,  “I'm not sure about the measures most people in the film industry are amazing. But it's essential for some people in the film industry to educate themselves about respecting basic human rights and decency, but some need to learn.”

What is the Hema Committee Report? 

Hema Committee Report has created an uproar in the Malayalam film industry with several veteran actors and directors, including Ranjith, Siddique and Mukesh M, being accused of sexual misconduct. The 235-page document, initially submitted to the government in 2019, exposes a culture of sexual exploitation and disregard for women's rights in Mollywood. It also sheds light on the practices like casting couch, where women are pressured into offering sexual favours to bag a movie offer.  

Apart from sexual misconduct, the three-member committee consisting of retired High Court Justice K. Hema, former actress Sharada, and retired IAS officer K.B. Valsala Kumari, found out that women also faced gender disparity in the film industry. Particularly, remuneration and basic workplace safeguards. “In the course of the study, we understood that the Malayalam film industry is under the control of certain producers, directors, and actors—all male. They control the whole Malayalam film industry and they dominate other persons working in cinema,” the report states. The committee identified around 17 forms of exploitation experienced by women artists from different departments in the industry.