Remya denies role in Dileep ouster, slams other reports

Actress Remya Nambeesan, a key face in the Women in Cinema Collective, has vehemently denied any deliberate attempts to keep Dileep out of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA). (WCC had sought the ouster of Dileep from AMMA after he was made an accused in the February 17, 2017 actress attack case).

“It's totally wrong to say so. It was a joint decision. There are reports suggesting that Prithviraj and I were instrumental in Dileep's ouster, which is untrue. There were two executive meetings and I could attend only the first. I couldn't be a part of the second meeting due to professional commitments and hence wasn't aware of the outcome,” she said.

She said the recent statements by some AMMA members would only create confusion among the public and in the media. Remya said the WCC nursed no intention to create a split in AMMA adding the resignation from the actors' association was because they (the resigned actors) could not turn a blind eye to what was happening.

Remya was last seen in a Malayalam movie in 2015, Saigal Paadukayanu. On why she was not being seen in movies, she said: “I asked what I deserved and probably that would be the reason. Once I asked to get me the script of a movie and I was rejected for that. Directors are preferring new actresses in every new movie, as newcomers wouldn't demand wages. Mostly, they are contented with what they get, unlike the experienced ones. And in that way, the makers get to release their film on a low budget."

The rift in AMMA over the induction of ousted actor Dileep, an accused in the February 17, 2017 actress attack case, had taken an ugly turn recently with a new breed of actors and the Women in Cinema Collective coming out openly against the accused actor's re-induction. They had criticised AMMA's 'double standards' and said the organization was going soft on someone who was accused of harassing a woman.

In protest, at least four actresses resigned from AMMA, saying that they had been denied justice. They said there was no point in continuing with the organization. The actresses who resigned in solidarity with victim actress were Ramya Nambeesan, Geetu Mohandas and Rima Kallingal.