A Bengali actor who had previously accused Ranjith Balakrishnan of sexual misconduct has reacted strongly to his recent arrest in a fresh sexual harassment case, saying the development lends weight to concerns she had raised years earlier.
In a conversation with Asianet News, the actor referred to her 2024 complaint, in which she alleged that Ranjith had sexually assaulted her during an audition for the film Paleri Manikyam: Oru Pathirakolapathakathinte Katha in 2009 at a guest house in Kochi. While the complaint led to a police case and legal proceedings, it was eventually quashed by the Kerala High Court in October 2025 on technical grounds, citing the expiry of the statutory time limit to pursue the matter.
Responding to the filmmaker’s arrest and remand in the latest case, she said the turn of events felt like a form of delayed accountability. “Karma is a bitch, it leaves nobody. Whatever goes around comes around. He may be an acclaimed director or a famous figure, but this recent incident proves that he is essentially not a good human being,” she said.
The actor noted that it had taken her 15 years to come forward with her allegations, pointing to the lack of support systems and limited influence of social media at the time. “Back then, I knew no one. Social media was not that relevant. My case was kind of nullified because of time constraints and technical issues. Maybe he thought he would go scot-free yet again. But no,” she said, expressing support for the present complainant who has now approached the police. She added that such cases underline the need for accountability. “These kinds of sexual predators should be put behind bars. This should be set as an example that women deserve respect in their workplace,” she said.
Reflecting on her own experience, the actor said procedural limitations had prevented her case from reaching a conclusive legal outcome, despite her efforts to pursue it. She also suggested that the filmmaker’s consistent denial of allegations across cases followed a familiar pattern.
Her remarks come in the wake of Ranjith being remanded to 14 days in judicial custody and lodged in the Ernakulam sub jail after his arrest on a complaint by a woman actor currently working in his film. The complainant has alleged that he entered her caravan without permission at a shooting location in Fort Kochi and attempted to sexually assault her. Police have registered a case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the investigation is ongoing.
The Bengali actor said she hopes the latest proceedings will be pursued effectively and serve as a reminder of the importance of ensuring safe and respectful working conditions within the film industry.