In a bold and disturbing revelation, renowned Malayalam film producer and actress Sandra Thomas has once again raised the alarm over the alleged widespread use of narcotics in the Malayalam film industry, commonly referred to as Mollywood.
Speaking to media outlets, Sandra alleged that drug use has become institutionalized to the extent that funds for drugs are now being set aside as part of official film budgets.
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“Mollywood has sunk so deep into the gutter of drug abuse that now, money for drugs is decided in the official film budget itself,” said Sandra.
She claimed that drug use continues on a large scale, not just as a hidden problem but as an open reality on many film sets.
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“Even today, the Malayalam film industry continues to see large-scale use of narcotic drugs,” she added, stressing that the issue is not a past concern but an ongoing crisis.
These explosive statements have sent shockwaves through the industry, which has long prided itself on being content-rich and relatively clean compared to other regional cinema industries.
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However, Sandra’s remarks have exposed what she believes is a deeply entrenched and ignored drug culture.
“A special budget is being allotted exclusively for this. Even separate rooms are allotted for this purpose,” she claimed. “However, the associations say the entire industry cannot be blamed just because of one or two people.”
Sandra also took a swipe at industry voices like producer Listin Stephen, questioning how senior figures could still be silent. She claimed that drug use is not limited by gender or status, and that substances are openly available on film sets.
She further pointed out, “Producers are unwilling to raise a complaint because of fear it will stall their projects. If someone is caught on the sets, the shooting gets stalled. It also ruins the goodwill of the actor. What is the point in doing a movie with him if his goodwill is lost?”
The conversation around substance abuse in Mollywood has intensified in recent years, especially after actress Vincy Aloshious accused actor Shine Tom Chacko of harassment under the influence.
