Malayalam Actor Shine Tom Chacko Loses Cool At Hema Committee Question At IIFA: 'I'm Not Here To...'

Following the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, it has ignited a wave of controversies amid calls for justice within the Malayalam film industry. With the report revealing rampant sexual misconduct, it has drawn a slurry of reactions from many. The Hema Committee controversy even made its way to the IIFA Utsavam green carpet, leaving Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko irked. Tom Chacko, who attended the event for a Telugu film, expressed dissatisfaction upon being asked inappropriate questions.

As the media asked him for a few remarks about the ongoing turmoil in the Malayalam industry, the actor began by joking about the timeline of events surrounding the controversy and the IIFA. “You must ask these to Mrs Hema. Why are you asking that? It is not important here, why are you asking it? Did you come here to learn about the Hema Committee? That is not your right to ask about it, and I am not here to talk about it. It’s not the right occasion,” he said before walking away from the media.

The actor received the Best Villain Award at IIFA 2024 for his performance in Dasara. While he refrained from making any comments at the IIFA event, he has always remained vocal about the issue. Previously, he spoke to the media and asserted that the notion of artists using drugs is not new.

“I paid attention to the details in the Hema Committee report. We’ve always heard that artists are wild and reckless. Is it really new for artists to do these things? Does a person have a market or business? If so, people are interested in them. If not, there’s no reason to follow them. After all, this is a business sector, isn’t it?” he was quoted by Onmanorama as saying.

Pointing out that sexual harassment is less prevalent in the film industry compared to other fields, he also stressed the importance of the victims who took the first step against such activities.