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Swetha Menon: It wasn't easy but I had to expose the misdeed

Bollywood-Malayalam actress Swetha Menon recently accused Congress leader N Peethambara Kurup of molestation at a public event in Kollam, Kerala.

Click here to know more about the controversy.

Menon gives her side of the story to Subhash K Jha.

Swetha, what happened?

Well, by now what happened is public knowledge. I’ve spoken about the nightmarish experience I had.

It isn’t easy for a girl to come out with something like this but I had to expose the misdeed.

So many girls go through this and make the mistake of not talking about it. I was going to file a formal police case and meet the chief minister.

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'There was no pressure from any quarters'

Then why did you decide to withdraw your complaint?

(Sighs) He is a 72-year old man, who admitted his mistake.

My husband, my spiritual guru and my father convinced me to accept the apology. Actually my father, who is 80 years old, made up my mind for me. He pointed out to me that at that age, it is very difficult for a man to own up to his mistake and even more difficult for him to apologise publicly. But he (Kurup) did it.

It’s being said you were pressurized to withdraw your complaint?

Not true at all.

There was no pressure from any quarters.

You’ve known me for years, do you think I’d give in to pressure of any kind?

No, it was on humanitarian grounds that I withdrew my case. I didn’t succumb to any pressure. I gave dignity to his age by withdrawing the complaint. 

'I never did anything for publicity in Bollywood'

It is also said that this controversy was created for publicity.

I never did anything for publicity in Bollywood. Why would I do it in the south where I am doing well for myself? It was never my intention to create any controversy. I only wanted what had happened to me to come out in the public domain.

Do you think you might have misunderstood or misconstrued his intentions?

If you were a woman, you’d never ask this question. A girl knows exactly when she is touched in the wrong way. And there was definitely something not quite right about the whole thing.

'I enjoyed my stint in Bollywood. I have no regrets'

Bollywood was never fair to you in spite of some good performances. You’ve come a long way.

Yes, it’s been a long journey. I enjoyed my stint in Bollywood. I have no regrets.

Then I started getting offers in Malayalam cinema, and here I am. You never know what life has in store for you.