Veteran Mollywood actress Radikaa Sarathkumar has revealed disturbing incidents of actresses being secretly filmed in the nude by men using hidden cameras placed inside vanity vans. She clarified that these violations are not limited to the Malayalam film industry, recently highlighted in the Hema Committee Report, but also occur in Tamil and Telugu cinema.
Radikaa shared a specific experience on a film set in Kerala where she noticed a group of men laughing and watching something on their mobile phones. Upon investigation, she discovered they were viewing secretly recorded footage of an actress changing in a vanity van. She learned that such videos could be easily accessed by simply searching for the actress’s name online.
Fearing for her safety, Radikaa chose to change in her hotel room instead of using her vanity van. She also warned her fellow actresses about the hidden cameras and confronted the crew, threatening to take action if any cameras were found in her van. She refrained from disclosing the exact location of the incident, citing potential backlash.
Radikaa criticized the practice, stressing that vanity vans should remain private spaces for changing, resting, and eating. While she acknowledged actress Urvashi’s statement that vanity vans are safe in Kerala, Radikaa insisted these problems are prevalent across multiple states.
Discussing the Justice Hema Committee Report, which investigates sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry, Radikaa expressed frustration over delays in its release. With over 46 years in the film industry, she spoke about her own experiences with misconduct and underscored the importance of empowering women to say ‘No’ in such situations.
Radikaa also pointed out the silence of male actors on these issues, leaving female artists to bear the responsibility of protecting themselves.
