Interview | Shwetha Menon On Becoming A.M.M.A’s First Female President: 'Not Here To Rewrite History — But I Won’t Let Women Be Taken For Granted'

In a historic move, the powerful actors’ body A.M.M.A (Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes) voted in a woman as president for the first time since its inception. But the road ahead doesn’t seem easy for president Shwetha Menon, whose duties now include leading a significant image makeover for the polarising organisation.

On August 15, Shwetha Menon became the first woman to lead the influential actors’ body, which was formed in 1994. The date also marked exactly 35 years since her own acting debut, in the film Anaswaram alongside Mammootty. Joining her in leadership is Kukku Parameswaran, elected as the organisation’s first female General Secretary. More than just a change in leadership, this marks a symbolic shift in an organisation long criticised for its opacity and internal controversies. Last year, the findings of the Hema Committee report sparked widespread backlash, ultimately leading to the resignation of then-president Mohanlal.

Yet, if one followed the events leading up to this year’s election, it became clear that change comes slowly. Just days before the vote, controversy erupted when Shwetha was booked under Section 67A of the IT Act for allegedly appearing in sexually explicit content in films. The complaint, filed by social activist Martin Menachery—someone with little connection to the film industry—was quickly called out as a maliciously timed attack.

Despite the noise, Shwetha won the election, cementing her place in history. A day after her win, she sat down with The Hollywood Reporter India to speak about what lies ahead.

Excerpts from a conversation:

If you’d known it was going to be this difficult, would you have stood for the elections?

See, I was sure I had to start somewhere. It wasn’t really about the elections at that moment—what mattered to me was A.M.M.A. There was pressure from all quarters about why women weren’t being treated as equals here. And I’ve always believed that equality has to come from within. It’s like having many siblings—equality has to be taught early, by your parents. That’s how I was raised. I was always told I’m at par with any man. When I entered the election race, I had no plans, no agenda, no backing, no panel. The only thing I was sure of was that I wanted to be part of the bigger picture.

You’ve been part of A.M.M.A’s leadership before. At that point, did you feel you needed a bigger position to bring real change?

Not at all. None of us ever felt like we were headless chickens—at least not the way we’ve felt in the last few months. Still, I didn’t feel abandoned, even during that power vacuum. We were just looking at an unprecedented situation. For me, this was a personal decision—it had nothing to do with a group or a faction. I thought: If I don’t do something now, then when? I’ve always been part of teams led by Mohanlal, Mammootty, or Innocent. We’ve all learned a lot from them. But now, I think it’s time to unlearn a few things, make some tweaks, and try to take this forward. At the very least, I have to ensure A.M.M.A doesn’t collapse.

After the Hema Committee fallout, did you feel A.M.M.A might implode?

It was a shocking time for everyone. And it was even more shocking when Lalettan (Mohanlal) stepped down. That must’ve been a huge decision for him, and I’m sure he felt cornered—maybe not explicitly, but still. He’s not someone who gives up easily. Though I wasn’t part of that EC (Executive Committee) at the time, it felt out of character for him to quit like that. I served under him for six years, and I still have much to learn. The work at A.M.M.A is completely selfless. There’s no pay scale, no benefits—just commitment.

When a woman takes up such a post, the comparisons are never with her predecessors. It’s always about whether she’s “fit” to lead.

Exactly! I’ve spoken to people about this. The weight of expectations is real. I don’t want the entire burden of everything that’s happened so far to fall on me, and I definitely don’t want people expecting miracles. If I can survive the next three years without any major glitches, I’ll consider that half the job done. I’m not here to rewrite history; that’s not my agenda. There will always be people trying to pull you down, and honestly, there’s not much you can do about that.

How difficult were the weeks leading up to election day? The case filed against you must have been especially hard.

It was brutal. There was a point when I seriously considered giving up everything—even acting—just to fight the case. But now, I feel like I need to prove not just to myself, but to all women, that, "You cannot take women for a ride like that.” Under me, I won’t allow that to happen to anyone—be it a man or woman. People need to realise that we’re entertainers, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have hearts, or souls. We all have families waiting for us at home after our long shoots.

Don’t treat us like s**t. Don’t corner us. Every film I acted in was written and directed by some of our industry’s greats. They were all passed by a government-appointed censor board. Nobody has the right to judge me—or anyone—based on their on-screen roles. Honestly, it was the most absurd thing I’ve ever had to face.

Will you still pursue the case, now that you’re A.M.M.A president?

Absolutely. It has nothing to do with A.M.M.A. In fact, the fire in me has only grown stronger after the elections. This is about proving a point that women cannot be taken for granted.

Have you thought about your first agenda as president?

Yes, I have. My first decision is to stop talking to the media (laughs).