Trigger Warning: This article includes references to physical assault and harassment.

Actress Padmapriya Janakiraman recently opened up about a troubling incident that took place years ago on the sets of a Tamil film. She revealed how the filmmaker slapped her in front of everyone while the media reports claimed the opposite. During an event in Kozhikode on Tuesday, Padmapriya said as quoted by News18, “For a long time, I thought I was the issue.”

The actress further addressed the public and mentioned how the media falsely accused her of slapping the Tamil director while the opposite had happened. Padmapirya alleged that no one questioned why she complained to the film associations if any of the reports were true.

Talking about how it reflects on a broader issue in the film industry, she said, “When a woman talks about issues, she becomes the issue.”

Continuing her story, Padmapriya revealed that the director was barred from making movies for about six months following the incident. The actress said that after the “awful” experience she stopped accepting opportunities from Tamil cinema. 

While Padmapriya never mentioned the director’s name who misbehaved with her, she did highlight the inequality faced by women in showbiz. 

Not long ago, the Malayalam actress opened up about the Hema Committee report and called the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) disorganized. During an interview with Asianet News, Padmapriya said that she never expected the entire committee to resign as it was an irresponsible move.

She called out the film bodies for taking such sensitive matters “merely as sexual harassment allegations” rather than focusing on the “underlying power dynamics.”

Padmpriya shared her personal experience in Mollywood and said, “When I was around 25-26 years old, a leading production manager asked me, ‘Aren’t you getting too old? Maybe it’s time to stop.’ This is the kind of perspective that exists in the Malayalam industry.”

Disclaimer: If you need support or know someone who is struggling with domestic violence or sexual assault, abuse, or harassment, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist or NGO, or speak to someone about it. There are several helplines available for the same.

Rishi Kapoor hailed from the Kapoor family in Bollywood, which entertained audiences for four generations. He starred in back-to-back hits during the ‘70s and ‘80s, gaining nationwide recognition. During that time, he was asked if he would like his children to enter showbiz, and the actor requested the audience to welcome his children with open hearts and accept them like they did other for his family members. 

At the peak of success in his career during the ‘80s, Rishi Kapoor sat down for an interview with ITMB shows in 1987. During the conversation, the interviewer asked Rishi, as acting runs in the blood of their family, if he would like his kids to join showbiz. In his reply, he expressed that he would feel grateful if his kids got the same love and acceptance that audiences gave him and his family members. 

The Mulk actor said that he begs the audiences with folded holds to bless them so that they can continue to entertain the audiences with their craft in return for the love they have received. Rishi added, “Agaar mere bacche bhi iss film industry mein aana chahe toh aap unhe bhi open heart se welcome kare aur aapna aashirwad de. (If my kids want to come into the film industry, then please welcome them with open hearts and bless them.)”

Further, in the interview, he was asked if he would get angry over their decision to be a part of Bollywood. But, the actor shared his experience and jokingly said, “Mere pitaji ne koi danda leke mere saar pe toh mara nahi tha ki tumhe filmo mein kaam karna hoga. (My father didn’t beat me up with a stick and asked me to come into films)” For the unversed, his father, Raj Kapoor, made his debut film, Bobby, which made Rishi an overnight star. 

Furthermore, he expressed that if a person has both craft and luck, it’s an ideal combination for a successful career. Rishi took a jibe at himself and quipped that even he was in the industry due to his luck, not his craft of acting. 

Rishi Kapoor’s son, Ranbir Kapoor, who debuted in 2008, has established himself as a successful actor. On the other hand, his daughter, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, is a fashion designer and an entrepreneur.