I felt shocked and humiliated: Amala Paul

Actress Amala Paul recently lodged a complaint with the Chennai police and brought to light a shocking incident of sexual harassment at her workplace, making her one of the few actresses to have come out and lodged a complaint against a harasser. Earlier, Radhika Apte also spoke about being harassed by a South actor without naming him, although she later denied it. While a lot of actresses admit during interviews to being harassed or approached inappropriately, not everyone has the courage to name and shame, or to lodge a complaint.

In the past, Amala Paul has also suffered other incidents of harassment — Her photos were earlier morphed and circulated. But her decision to lodge a complaint officially against an inappropriate advance made towards her can be seen as a heroic act.

Speaking after filing her complaint, a visibly flustered Amala said, “When I had gone for my dance rehearsals, a man spoke to me unpleasantly, like he was conducting a trade. I was very shocked and humiliated. That’s why I immediately came to the police station to complain.” She added, “While I was practising, he came in and spoke as though he was part of the event. But he spoke to me personally when I was alone; that’s why I complained. He was speaking like he was conducting a sexual trade, for a favour.”

The actress confessed that she felt unsafe as an independent working woman who was put in a spot at her workplace. Ironically, Amala is to perform at an event titled ‘Dazzling Thamizhachi’ in Malaysia shortly, an event she agreed to participate in because it is a women’s empowerment show. She bravely declared, “I should not let it go. Because there are many independent working women like me. If there is no safety, then I don’t know why we’re living.”