The actress explained to ETimes the reason for her visit to the Chief Minister’s office. She advocated for the creation of a special team composed of women artists who can offer support and assistance in such situations.
“I have worked diligently over the past few weeks and had meetings with the Chief Minister, Home Minister, and the head of the Women Welfare Department of the Government of Karnataka. Letters have been sent to these officials on behalf of my foundation. Our initiative is not about the ‘Me Too’ movement. The Kannada film industry is a beautiful place where women are largely respected. However, like in any industry, there are some issues due to various individuals. We shouldn’t tarnish the reputation of the entire industry because of a few,” she mentioned.
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Elaborating further, she added, “The real reason for my outreach to the Chief Minister is that the Kannada film industry lacks an organisation dedicated to women’s safety. There isn’t one in existence. Women are not active in our artist associations, and there is no one we can call for help. We don’t have the basic support system or contact numbers for assistance, and even when we do reach out, the response is sluggish. Therefore, I propose establishing an active women’s wing that will highlight and protect women’s rights. My concern is for newcomers. What happens when they enter the industry at a young age? Even today, many mothers discourage their daughters from pursuing an acting career. My goal is to make the Kannada industry a safer place for women. There should be a mandatory rule for producers and directors to be registered members of their respective associations to produce or direct a film. Similarly, women artists should also be required to join a Women’s Artist Association. We will protect them and provide a guide outlining their rights and what to demand before attending a shoot.”
Sanjana also discussed the general nature of the Kannada film industry, stating, “I am not saying this to flatter anyone, but the Kannada industry is relatively safe. Having worked in multiple industries, I’ve seen women trafficking scams where fraudsters pose as film producers and make false promises to young girls.”
She also acknowledged some of the industry’s feudal structures, noting, “It is a male-dominated industry. However, at least 10-20 percent of people will appreciate it if you speak out.”
Sanjana emphasised the need for a rule book or guide to raise awareness of rights, saying, “If such a guide is available, it would make women 95% safer. Having a father accompany a daughter on a shoot significantly increases her safety compared to being alone. My aim is to educate young women about their safety, as they lack the experience that seasoned professionals have.”
The actress stressed the importance of forming a women’s body within the industry, saying, “In the producers’ body, some members have reacted negatively, questioning if they are being labeled as rapists for wanting a women’s body. Nagalakshmi Chaudhary from the Women’s Commission has supported the need for a basic women’s body. With a strong women’s body, everyone will be held accountable. For instance, the Tamil industry has a rule that bans any producer, director, or artist involved in sexual abuse for five years.”
When asked what advice she has for women who are afraid to speak up, she responded, “Try your best to protect yourself and avoid becoming a victim. Prevention is better than complaining. Be very smart in handling such situations.”
Sanjana made her request to the Chief Minister just one day after a Bengaluru-based cinema industry group, FIRE (Film Industry for Rights and Equality), requested the Karnataka government to appoint a committee similar to the Justice Hema Committee to address issues in Sandalwood.
