Bhumi Pednekar has voiced her deep concerns over the findings of the Hema Committee report, which shed light on the harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry. Speaking at the ABP Network’s Ideas of India 2025 summit, Pednekar described the report’s revelations as heartbreaking and gruesome, admitting that they have heightened her fears about women’s safety in India.
Bhumi Pednekar On Hema Committee Report
The Hema Committee report, commissioned by the Kerala government in the aftermath of a 2017 assault case involving actor Dileep, was released in August last year. It is one of the first comprehensive investigations into gender-based abuse within an Indian film industry. The 233-page document exposed the deep-rooted power dynamics that enable the exploitation of female artists, making it a significant milestone in the ongoing fight for gender equality in cinema.
Reflecting on her personal fears, Pednekar shared that the concerns extend beyond just the film industry. “As a woman in India today, I’m scared. This is not just about the film fraternity. There’s a deep-rooted conditioning of power that makes it difficult for women to feel safe,” she said. The actor also cited everyday worries, such as her nervousness when her younger cousin, a college student in Mumbai, stays out late. “When she doesn’t come home till 11 pm, I get anxious. The fact that violence against women dominates front-page news so often is a disturbing reality we need to change,” she added.
The actor acknowledged that the Malayalam film industry was one of the first in India to take legal action against sexual harassment and gender inequality. “It is one part of the Indian fraternity where proper legal process was followed, and there were heartbreaking, gruesome details that came out,” she said.
Addressing the issue of the casting couch in Bollywood, Pednekar acknowledged its presence despite never experiencing it firsthand. “Before I became an actor, I worked as a casting assistant at Yash Raj Films, an institution that maintained strict professional boundaries. My casting director, Abhimanyu Ray, ensured no girl was ever cast without me being present in the room,” she recalled. However, she stressed that her experience does not invalidate the accounts of others. “Just because it hasn’t happened to me doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. We’ve seen many courageous women speak up about it,” she noted.
Also Read: Hema Committee Row: Kerala Government Assures Major Reforms To Protect Women In Malayalam Cinema
Pednekar also drew attention to the glaring gender pay gap in Bollywood, an issue that persists across industries worldwide. “Women CEOs of major conglomerates earn significantly less than their male counterparts. In the film industry, this disparity is even greater,” she remarked. She recounted a personal instance where she was offered just five percent of what her male co-star received, despite their similar career trajectories and equal contributions to the project. “I took that role because I didn’t have a choice. I wanted to create an ecosystem where I could empower myself and others,” she said.