#MeToo allegations: Amala Paul backs Leela Manimekalai, says Susi Ganesan abused and threatened her

Expressing solidarity with poet Leela Manimekalai, who has called out film director Susi Ganesan as a sexual predator in the wake of the #MeToo movement, actress Amala Paul today said she too had been subjected to "double meaning dialogues, misrepresented offers and unchivalrous bodily contacts" during the filming of Thiruttu Payale 2 (2017), directed by Susi Ganesan.

Amala Paul issued a statement, a copy of which was posted on her Twitter account.

In her statement, Amala said, "I support Leena Manimekalai's allegations and can imagine this episode happening with her, from a man who has a twisted set of moral values and utterly low respect for women. She being an aspiring director could have made her an easy target for such an incidence to take place.

"Me too despite being the leading actress for Thiruttu Payale 2 was subjected to double meaning talks, misrepresented offers and unchivalrous bodily contacts. This pretty much made my experience of shooting TP2 a mentally fatiguing one. I can totally understand what she could have been subjected through (sic).

"I applaud her for the courage she showed by narrating her ordeal on a public platform.

"In our emerging economy and ever expanding female workforce, this behaviour is rampantly occurring everywhere, in all trades and industries.

"These men treat their housewives and daughters different but when it comes to their colleagues they don't miss a chance to show an upper hand and take advantage.

"This is one of the main reasons we Indians are unable to unlock our true potential either in creative, service or spiritual industries.

"We have heard a lot of cases from spiritual and creative industries. But true change will come when service and unorganized sectors are also heard for their #metoo ordeals.

"It's high time that government and judicial benches device out a system to address these issues of our society and not let the female work force of future subjected to such harrowing #metoo incidents (sic)." 

In an update, Amala posted that she had been abused and threatened by Susi Ganesan and his wife Manjari following the revelations.