Chilanka: Yes, I slapped the 60-plus-year-old popular Malayalam TV serial director on the set; I couldn’t take the torture for rejecting his sexual advances
As women’s safety, particularly in the workplace, continues to be a prominent societal concern, the recent revelation from TV actress Chilanka has sent shockwaves through the Malayalam television industry. Amidst the ongoing discussions sparked by the Hema committee report in the movie industry, the actress known for her roles in popular shows like Athmasakhi and Kanalpoovu has come forward to reveal the troubling experiences she endured on a Malayalam serial set, involving the show’s director.“At first, I was cast for a different role in the show, and we even shot pilot episodes for it. But one morning, when I arrived for the shoot, I found out the director had given me a different, less important character. I didn’t understand why at the time, but later realized it was his way of trying to manipulate me, hoping I would please him to get the better role. As an artist, I believe in doing my best no matter the role, and that’s exactly what I did,” she said.Chilanka shared that the director began treating her with indifference soon after she blocked him for sending obscene messages on WhatsApp.“He used to make filthy comments and touch inappropriately during the shoot. I tried to ignore most of it. One night, he sent me links to porn videos along with some vulgar pictures. I was shocked and immediately I blocked him. From that point on, the mental harassment became unbearable. He publicly humiliated me by constantly criticizing my acting, made slut-shaming comments , and spoke badly about my family. He even threatened to ruin my career. I put up with it all for months, focusing on my work. But one day, he crossed the line, and I couldn’t take it anymore. Yes, I slapped him, the 60-plus-year-old popular Malayalam TV serial director,” she revealed.Chilanka said she is deeply grateful to the crew and channel officials for supporting her, even though the director is a well-known figure in the industry.“Right after the incident, I was sure I wanted to leave the serial. But the entire team stood by me. Within minutes, I got a call from a senior channel official asking about the situation. When I explained everything, she assured me, ‘Chilanka, this director will no longer be part of the serial, or any other work with our channel.’ Those words gave me a comfort I can’t put into words. I didn’t want to harm the project or the channel’s reputation—I just wanted to teach the harasser a strong lesson. So, I stayed on and completed the project, right up to the final episode,” she said.Soon after Chilanka’s revelation, while many have praised her courage, some are still questioning why she stayed silent for so long. However, the actress has a clear response to that.“A person who goes through such trauma takes months to heal, that’s natural. But wasn’t someone who stayed silent or didn’t react. I took action when it was needed and found a solution. Still, I kept quiet in public for the sake of the serial because I knew it was the livelihood of many people. I also didn’t want to damage the reputation of the channel that supported me,” she said.“Now, you might ask why I’m speaking out publicly. I have my reasons. First, I found out that this man is trying to get me banned in the industry by stopping producers from offering me work. I don’t mind that because I have my own business to support myself. But the bigger reason is this: the director, who was suspended by one channel for workplace harassment, is now working on a prime-time serial on another well-known channel. And the decision-maker for that project is a woman! It’s such an irony. I don’t want any more women to fall into his trap and suffer like I did. So, I’m speaking out now to protect my fellow actresses,” she added.Chilanka also advises aspiring actors to stay strong and be cautious so they don’t fall into such traps.“The industry as a whole isn’t bad, there are just a few toxic people like him. If you have talent, you don’t have to tolerate any of that to succeed. Believe in your talent, and the right opportunities will come to you,” the actress concluded.
