Renowned Malayalam director Ranjith has resigned from his position as the chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy, following mounting public pressure after allegations of misconduct were made against him by Bengali actress Sreelekha Mitra. Ranjith officially communicated his decision to step down to the state’s Cultural Affairs Minister, Saji Cherian, expressing his reluctance to continue in the role amidst the controversy.
The allegations surfaced when Sreelekha Mitra, in a media interaction on Friday, accused Ranjith of inappropriate behavior during a meeting at his residence. According to Mitra, she was invited to discuss a film project, but during the meeting, Ranjith made subtle advances that made her feel uncomfortable. Feeling uneasy and distressed by the encounter, Mitra left Kerala the next day. Sources had indicated that the Department of Culture had requested his resignation.
In response to these allegations, Ranjith has firmly denied any wrongdoing. He clarified that Mitra had been invited for an audition for the film Paleri Manikyam, but after assessing her performance, he decided that she was not a good fit for the role and sent her back. Despite his denial, the growing public outcry and the seriousness of the allegations have prompted Ranjith to relinquish his position as the head of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
