In conversations with Asianet News and Manorama News, actor Charmila has accused 28 individuals, including prominent actors, of sexual abuse within the Malayalam film industry. While she has refrained from naming most of these individuals, she specifically mentioned producer MP Mohanan, production manager Shanmukhan, and director Hariharan in her allegations, detailing serious misconduct and harassment.
Charmila accused Mohanan, Shanmukhan, and their associates of attempting to rape her in 1997 during the filming of Arjunan Pillayum Anju Makkalum. She recounted that the incident took place in a hotel room where the men allegedly tried to forcibly remove her saree and assaulted her male assistant who intervened. The actor claimed that a hotel receptionist was complicit in the attempt. She stated that she managed to escape with the help of an auto-rickshaw driver, while some junior artists on the film set were reportedly raped.
Charmila, who has acted in over 35 Malayalam films, also accused veteran director Hariharan, known for helming classics like Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989) and Amrutham Gamaya (1987), of inappropriate conduct. The actor alleged that Hariharan asked her friend, actor Vishnu, if she would be willing to "adjust," a euphemism for sexual favours. When she refused, both she and Vishnu were allegedly removed from the director’s 1994 film Parinayam.
Actor Vishnu corroborated Charmila’s account, stating that he was directed by Hariharan to inquire if Charmila would comply with his demand. When he conveyed her refusal, they were both excluded from the project.
Charmila further revealed that refusing to comply with such demands led to a significant decline in her career opportunities. She noted that while she has worked in four different film industries, most of these issues were prevalent in the Malayalam industry. Despite the allegations, she clarified that she does not plan to file a formal complaint, as she is currently focused on her personal life and her son