Soniya Malhar urges social media not to use Jayasurya’s name in her ‘Me Too’ statement

Actress Soniya Malhar, who recently opened up about a sexual abuse incident she faced on the sets of a film, urged people not to mention Jayasurya’s name in the incident. She said she was pained to see people mentioning Jayasurya and Dulquer Salmaan’s name in the case. “I want those involved in such cases to be brought to justice. However, I don’t want to reveal anyone’s name now. It is sad to see people linking the incident I mentioned to Jayasurya and Dulquer Salmaan. I will reveal the names of the perpetrators if asked by a responsible authority. Till then, I don’t want people to make assumptions,” she said.

She added that she was not afraid to speak the truth. “This is the time to talk about the abuse we have faced. However, actors should not make accusations to seek personal revenge after having consensual sex. However, those who took advantage of others should be punished,” she said.
Recently, the actress opened up about the harassment she faced at the hands of a young actor. Sonia said that the actor suddenly grabbed her while she was returning from the toilet during a shoot in Thodupuzha. The opportunity to work on this shoot came through the production controller and took place in a place that looked like a warehouse.
Sonia said that she felt terrified and burst into tears due to the actor’s sudden behavior. When she cried, the actor apologized. When asked about his actions, the actor explained that he liked her nature and her behavior seemed appropriate at that time. He also mentioned that he liked her outfit – a black T-shirt and blue jeans. After completing the three-to-four-day shoot, Sonia returned home, but the emotional distress persisted.

After discussing the incident with her husband, Sonia was advised not to continue acting. When asked if it was a major issue, Sonia replied that people like her would find it difficult to make a voice in the film industry. Eventually, family responsibilities brought her back to acting. After the Hema Commission report was released, Sonia noticed some reactions denying the report’s findings. She clarified that she was now sharing her past experience to dispel misconceptions and clarify that the situation was not what some responses might have suggested.