Authors
Sabloo Thomas has worked as a special correspondent with the Deccan Chronicle from 2011 to December 2019. Post-Deccan Chronicle, he freelanced for various websites and worked in the capacity of a translator as well (English to Malayalam and Malayalam to English). He’s also worked with the New Indian Express as a reporter, senior reporter, and principal correspondent. He joined Express in 2001.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Malayalam actor Malavika Srinath recounts a casting couch experience during the audition for the film Lucifer.
Fact
Malvika Srinath was talking about facing a casting couch experience after she fell victim to a fake audition. The claim has been falsely linked to the movie Lucifer featuring Malayalam movie star Mohanlal.
A video is going viral on social media claiming to show Malayalam actor Malvika Srinath recounting a casting couch experience she purportedly faced during the audition for the film Lucifer.
In the viral video, the actor can be heard saying that the person who conducted the audition told her that if Malvika “is willing, she would get the role of Manju Warrier’s daughter, but I escaped from the venue.”
The video is viral with the caption, “The person who was considered for the role of Manju Warrier’s daughter in Lucifer before Sania Iyyappan was considered for the role opening up about the sexual assault she faced in the sets of the film Lucifer. Why is the police not arresting the accused after the police recorded the statement of this girl?”
The video has become viral since the release of the Hema Committee report, which highlights the discrimination and exploitation that female actors encounter in the Malayalam movie industry. From the prevalence of the casting couch and the lack of basic amenities on film sets to wage disparities and ostracism for refusing to comply with the demands of abusers, the report has laid bare the industry’s darker side.
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Fact Check/Verification
We did a keyword search in Malayalam using the keywords ‘Malavika Sreenath” and “Casting Couch” which led us to an interview of Malvika Srinath uploaded on the YouTube Channel of 24 News on April 9, 2023. The interview is part of a programme called “Happy to Meet You.
Fifteen minutes into the interview, Malavika can be heard talking about her experience with casting couch during a ‘fake’ audition. She starts by saying that those who reached out to her had nothing to do with the film called her.
“Half an hour after the audition, my hair was messy, I was told to go to the dressing room and fix it. As soon as I went to the dressing room, he came after me and grabbed me from behind,” Malavika says in the video.
“No matter how much I tried to escape from him, he would not let go,” she added.
“If you cooperate now, you will be given the role of Manju Warrier’s daughter… ‘Don’t worry about the fact that your mother and sister are waiting outside and it would take only ten minutes’, he said. I started crying and tried to knock his camera down. While his attention was diverted, I got out and escaped,” Malvika says.
On further probe, we also found an Instagram post by Malavika Sreenath on August 20, 2024, where she clarified that the viral claim was fake.
“Please stop spreading fake news. The video clip that is circulating now is only a small portion of my interview. Many who are sharing this have not seen the entire interview. They do not know about the real incident. The experience that is being shared happened 10 years ago even before I entered the film industry. Those who organised the audition had nothing to do with the film. It was a fake audition to swindle money. My video has nothing to do with current issues. Please stop sharing this clip for publicity. Stop spreading fake news. I am not part of the current issues,” her post reads.
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Conclusion
Thus, our investigation has revealed that Malvika Srinath was not speaking about alleged casting couch experience during the audition for the film Lucifer. She has clarified that this experience was during a ‘fake’ film audition.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
YouTube Video by 24 News on April 9, 2023
Instagram post by malavika_sreenath on August 20, 2024
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Authors
Sabloo Thomas has worked as a special correspondent with the Deccan Chronicle from 2011 to December 2019. Post-Deccan Chronicle, he freelanced for various websites and worked in the capacity of a translator as well (English to Malayalam and Malayalam to English). He’s also worked with the New Indian Express as a reporter, senior reporter, and principal correspondent. He joined Express in 2001.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
