South Indian film star Vikram has publicly condemned recent incidents of violence against women, calling them “disgusting” and urging for systemic change. The actor’s remarks follow high-profile cases, including the alleged rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata and the release of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposes exploitation in Malayalam cinema.

In an interview with PTI, the 58-year-old Vikram expressed his frustration with the state of women’s safety, emphasizing that women should feel secure at all times and places.

“All women need to feel protected. They should be able to walk the streets at 3:00 in the morning and feel they can walk, go home, and that nobody will do anything. That every man is there to protect them, to give them their space. It’s disgusting what’s happening,” Vikram said.

The actor, who stars in the Tamil period drama ‘Thangalaan’, releasing its Hindi version in North India this Friday, has often pondered addressing issues of women’s safety through his films.

He noted the impact of such incidents on society and the potential role of filmmakers in promoting change. “We get affected by most things that happen… I’ve always thought that if I was creative, would I address it more in my movies? Will I do something?” Vikram added.

He suggested that inspiration might be drawn from ‘Thangalaan’ director Pa Ranjith, known for his films that focus on systemic change. Vikram shared his thoughts on how to approach the problem: “It’s something that I’m trying to figure out, ‘What do we do? What does the nation need to do? Do we start young? Do we start inculcating these things in children?’ As Pa Ranjith says, ‘Change the whole system and start from scratch’. I don’t know, something has to be done.”

Vikram’s outspoken stance adds to the growing conversation about women’s safety and systemic change in India, reinforcing the urgent need for societal reform and better protection for women.