Senior Actor Siddique Resigns from AMMA Following Rape Allegations by Prominent Actress
Image credit: The Indian Express
Thiruvananthapuram: Veteran Malayalam actor Siddique has stepped down as General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) after a prominent actress accused him of raping her during her younger years. AMMA Vice President Jayan Cherthala confirmed the resignation, stating that Siddique could not continue in his role amidst such serious allegations.
The actress, who publicly made the accusations, expressed her willingness to take legal action if the government guarantees her safety. “If justice is assured, I am prepared to proceed legally against Siddique. I possess evidence. He has behaved similarly with others. I seek assurance from the government that my life and aspirations will be protected,” she declared.
She dismissed Siddique’s resignation as mere theatrics aimed at gaining public sympathy. “This is nothing but a ploy to garner sympathy. He should be banned from the film industry. Siddique has built his career by crushing the dreams of many, like me. Numerous talented professionals have been pushed out of the industry because of him. Yet, there are still those who are willing to offer him opportunities,” she added.
The actress also revealed that another industry professional had engaged in misconduct, disclosing that a photographer had shared her mobile number without her consent, leading to an inappropriate phone call. “One night, he called me, making vulgar comments. Later, he even suggested that if I wasn’t interested, I could ask my friends,” she said.
The accusations against Siddique surfaced on Saturday when the actress shared her ordeal, recounting how the incident affected her career. “I had big dreams when I joined the film industry. He invited me to a hotel room under the guise of discussing a film project. I approached it professionally but was trapped and sexually assaulted. It was rape… He slapped and kicked me, and I had to flee. He is a criminal. Some of my friends have had similar experiences with him. Because of this, I was sidelined in the industry. Today, he presents a different image, but he cannot escape the truth. If he looks in the mirror, he will see a criminal,” she stated.
She emphasized that several of her friends had also faced harassment from influential figures in the industry. She highlighted the importance of the forthcoming Hema Committee report, which is expected to expose the rampant sexual abuse within the Malayalam film industry. “We are awaiting the Hema Committee report. The next steps are crucial, and we hope the government will prioritize this issue,” she said.
These allegations against Siddique follow closely on the heels of Bengali actor Sreelekha’s accusations against prominent Malayalam film director and Kerala Chalachitra Academy chairman Ranjith, alleging misconduct in 2009. The Hema Committee report has already pointed to a pervasive culture of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry, citing issues like the casting couch, suggestive and vulgar comments, and male co-actors attempting to force their way into the rooms of female colleagues.
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