Malayalam actor Rahman came out in support of actress Shweta Menon, who was recently slapped with an FIR claiming she made financial gains by promoting obscene scenes in her past movies. The Kerala High Court on Thursday stayed proceedings in the case.
Taking to Instagram, Rahman expressed his shock about the baseless allegations against Shwetha, adding that his "heart is filled with anger at the injustice of it all."
"I have known you for almost three decades, and in all that time you have been a true friend — one of the kindest and most genuine people I have met in our industry," he said adding that despite working only in a single movie, the time spent together on shows was enough for knowing her as a person and treasuring their friendship.
Rahman recounted how Shwetha cared for newcomers and crew members during shows that they worked together, revealing that one time she quietly bought medicines for crew members who were unwell without expecting any recognition. "You treated everyone with respect, regardless of their position. Those moments spoke volumes about the person you are," he added.
The actor said the case against her was "utter nonsense", adding that he and his wife Meher were shocked and disgusted by those who made allegations against her.
He said it was a "deliberate" attempt to defame her ahead of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) elections as she she is running for the post of the president. He said that though such "dirty games" are common in politics, he never expected such malicious acts in the film industry.
"Please forgive me for not reaching out sooner. I was unwell with food poisoning, and then the loss of my dear friend Shanavas left me silent for a while. My words are meant for you, but I also want the public to know where I stand. I’m aware that some media outlets may twist my words, but I honestly don’t care," Rahman added.
Expressing his full support for Shwetha, the actor said she would make "an excellent president" of the AMMA organisation.
Rahman urged Shwetha not to let the current situation break her spirit, adding that those who tried to harm her will face the consequences one day. "I know how hard you have worked to get where you are today — without anyone’s help, through sheer determination and strength. You are stronger than this storm," he added.
In her petition to the high court, Shwetha argued that the allegations are baseless and unsupported by tangible evidence, adding that her film and advertisements were duly censored, certified and publicly available for years. She objected to the claims that her work were "obscene" as unfair and baseless, including her performance in the movie, 'Paleri Manikyam', which won Kerala State Award. She added that the politically motivated complaint was aimed at damaging her strong candidacy and stop her from becoming AMMA's first woman president.