Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra has announced her withdrawal from an upcoming seminar in Kochi following the recent turmoil in her life, which includes allegations of sexual harassment against prominent Malayalam film director Ranjith. Mitra, who has been at the center of intense media scrutiny, cited the emotional toll of the situation as her reason for stepping back temporarily.
Sreelekha Mitra made her decision public on Sunday morning through an Instagram post, where she opened up about the challenges she has faced since making her allegations. The actor emphasized that the strain of constant media attention and the emotional burden of revisiting the traumatic incident repeatedly led her to the decision to take a break.
In her post, Mitra reflected on the significance of August in her life, noting that it has always been a month filled with both personal milestones and painful memories. “August has always made me feel it’s ‘august’ presence..my birth month and the month of my mom’s passing, my brother’s birth month, and the month and day of my very dear friend’s passing,” she wrote. She also mentioned the 15th of August as a significant day in her life, not only as India’s Independence Day but also as the day she moved out of her marital home to start afresh.
Mitra described how this August has been particularly challenging, beginning with the R.G. Kar Hospital rape and murder case, which stirred outrage across the country, followed by the killing of an elephant in Jhargram, and then her own revelations about a past incident in the Malayalam film industry. She noted that her involvement in the #MeToo movement had resulted in relentless media coverage, which has taken a heavy toll on her.
Sreelekha Mitra has been a vocal participant in the #MeToo movement, particularly in the Bengali film industry, where she has previously named individuals involved in similar incidents. Her recent allegations against Ranjith have further intensified the media focus on her, prompting her to step back from public engagements.
As Sreelekha Mitra navigates this difficult period, her decision to withdraw from the Kochi seminar serves as a reminder of the personal and emotional costs that often accompany speaking out against powerful figures. While she has not specified when she will return to public life, her message makes it clear that she is taking the time she needs to recover from the recent upheavals.
Sources By Agencies
