Khushbu Sundar on being abused by father amid Hema Committee report: 'Should've spoken earlier'

The Justice K Hema Committee report has rocked the Malayalam film industry to its core. The explosive report that was submitted to the government of the southern Indian state of Kerala in December 2019 was made public recently on August 19, revealing the dark side of the Malayalam film industry.

The landmark report looked into the dire working situation of women in the Malayalam film industry, revealing shocking instances ofsexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse. Since the report wasmade public, several women and actresses have come out, revealing being sexually abused or harassed while working in the industry by their male counterparts.

Several actresses have spoken in support of the Hema committee. The latest to join the list is actor turned-politician Khushbu Sundar.

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In a recent post, Sundar hailed the women who courageously spokeabout the abuse faced by them while working in Malayalam cinema.

She wrote, “This moment of #MeToo prevailing in our industry breaks you. Kudos to the women who have stood their ground and emerged victorious. ✊ The #HemaCommittee was much needed to break the abuse. But will it? Abuse, asking for sexual favours, and expecting women to compromise to gain a foothold or accelerate their careers exist in every field. Why is a woman alone expected to go through the grind? Although men too face it, it's marginally women who bear the brunt.”

In the post, the politician went on to mention the shame the victim has to go through as she recalled being abused by her father, the bombshell revelation she made in 2023.

Saying that not everyone is privileged enough to speak out, she wrote, ''The victim might be a stranger to you or me, but she needs our support, an ear to listen, and emotional backing from us all. When questioning why she didn’t come out earlier, we need to consider her circumstances – not everyone is privileged to speak out. As a woman and a mother, the wounds inflicted by such violence cut deep, not only in the flesh but in the very soul. These acts of brutality shake the foundations of our trust, our love, and our strength.''

She also said, "Some ask me what took me so long to speak about my father's abuse. I agree I should have spoken earlier. But what happened to me, was not a compromise to build my career. I was abused at the hands of the person who was supposed to provide me the strongest arms to hold me if I fell. To all the men out there, I implore you to stand by the victim and show your unwavering support. Every man was born to a woman who endured incredible pain and sacrifice.''

Khushbu Sundar on being sexually assaulted

In 2023, Sundar revealed that she was sexually abused by her father at the age of eight. During her interaction with Barkha Dutt for Mojo Story, Khushbu said, “I think when a child is abused, it scars the child for life and it’s not about a girl or a boy. My mother has been through the most abusive marriage. A man who probably thought it was his birthright to beat up his wife, beat up his children, sexually abuse his only daughter. When my abuse started I was just 8 years old and I had the courage to speak against him when I was 15.”