According to Sreelekha, Ranjith invited her to be part of a Malayalam film and during a meeting, he touched her arm in a way that made her uncomfortable.
Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra has accused Ranjith, the director and Chairman of the Kerala State Film Academy, of inappropriate behavior during their interactions.
According to Sreelekha, Ranjith invited her to be part of the Malayalam film ‘Paleri Manikyam,’ and during a meeting, he touched her arm in a way that made her uncomfortable. She also mentioned that he played with her bangles and stroked her hair. When he tried to touch her neck, she felt uneasy and decided to leave the room.
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As a result, she chose not to participate in the film the following day. Sreelekha clarified that there was no sexual assault, but Ranjith’s actions made her feel that his intentions might not have been entirely innocent.
Documentary filmmaker Joshy Joseph, who was aware of the situation at the time, confirmed that Sreelekha had shared her experience with him. He mentioned that he was in town when the incident occurred, and after speaking with Sreelekha on the phone, he brought her to his home for support.
Ranjith has responded to the allegations, asserting that Sreelekha was only called in for an audition for ‘Paleri Manikyam’ and not as a confirmed actor for the film. He claimed that her performance did not meet their expectations and that his only interaction with her involved offering her a cigarette.
He stated that the assistant director, Shankar Ramakrishnan, informed Sreelekha the next day that her audition was unsatisfactory. Ranjith added that he later heard that Sreelekha had expressed her anger to Shankar.
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Ranjith suggested that the controversy might have ulterior motives, stating, “In this situation, I am the victim, and she is the one pursuing me. If she decides to take legal action, I will respond accordingly.”