Popular South Indian actress Bhavana Menon, who endured a harrowing abduction and sexual assault in 2017 while travelling from Thrissur to Kochi, has finally broken her five-year silence. In a heartfelt recent interview, she vowed to fight her battle fearlessly, regardless of the outcome.
“My entire world collapsed that day. My mind was in constant turmoil, filled with questions like why me? At times, I wished it was just a long nightmare. I blamed myself repeatedly, thinking if I could somehow turn back time, I could change everything and have my old life back,” she shared.
The investigation into the shocking case eventually led to one of Malayalam cinema’s most celebrated actors, Dileep, being named among the accused.
Bhavana revealed that despite the unwavering support of her husband, family, and close friends, she often felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness. She recalled the emotional strain of spending 15 consecutive days in court in 2020, where she was relentlessly cross-examined and made to prove her innocence. Adding to her pain were the online insults from the perpetrators, as well as the professional setbacks she faced when acting opportunities in the Malayalam film industry were denied to her. “I was shattered. All I wanted was to reclaim my dignity,” she said.
Earlier this year, Bhavana took to Instagram to publicly identify herself as the survivor of the assault. In an emotional post, she reflected on the toll the ordeal had taken on her. “This journey—from being a victim to becoming a survivor—has not been easy. For the past five years, my name and identity have been buried under the weight of the crime committed against me. Even though I am not the one who has done wrong, there have been countless attempts to humiliate, silence, and isolate me. But in those dark moments, there were a few who stood by me and kept my voice alive,” she wrote.