'Picked up my footwear to slap prominent actor'; Khushbu opens up about sexual harassment she faced in her career

Renowned actress and politician Khushbu was once a leading superstar in Tamil cinema. Apart from Tamil, she has also acted in other film industries such as Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada. Khushbu, who is still active in the film industry, has now opened up about the sexual harassment she faced early in her career. Khushbu recounted the horrific experience while speaking at a session on Women's Safety in Cinema at the International Film Festival of India in Goa.

"A prominent actor once asked me if I would give him a chance without anyone knowing. I immediately picked up my slipper and asked him, 'Should I slap you here or in front of the unit?' I did not think then that I was a newcomer and what would happen to my career. I prioritized my self-respect above everything else. You should respect yourself, then others will respect you too," Khushbu said.

Khushbu said that cinema is not the only industry where women are facing such exploitation. "Women are facing exploitation everywhere. Such incidents happen when you're travelling in a shared auto, train, or flight. It's everywhere, not just in cinema. If someone misbehaves with you, you must respond to it," she added.