Malayalam actor Parvathy Thiruvothu has spoken candidly about a difficult experience she faced while shooting for the Tamil survival drama Maryan, revealing how the film’s team initially ignored her discomfort during an intense shoot involving water sequences.
Though Parvathy made her Tamil debut with Poo in 2009 and appeared in films like Chennaiyil Oru Naal, it was Maryan — directed by Bharat Bala and starring Dhanush — that brought her wider recognition in the Tamil film industry. The project also featured an acclaimed technical crew, including Oscar winners A. R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty.
“They didn’t stop shooting”
In a recent interaction, Parvathy recalled that her very first day on the Maryan set involved being drenched repeatedly for a romantic sequence. She said she hadn’t carried extra clothes and had no support staff or entourage to help her manage the situation.
According to the actor, the team continued filming without checking if she was okay. When she asked for time to return to her hotel and change, she was told the production couldn’t afford delays.
It was only after Parvathy explicitly told the team — loudly — that she was on her period that filming was halted and she was finally allowed to step away.
“They had no idea how to respond to that,” she said, adding that there were only three women on set at the time, including herself. The actor noted that even today, many film sets, including in Malayalam cinema, continue to have very few women behind the scenes.
A larger conversation about film sets
Parvathy’s account once again brings attention to the lack of sensitivity and basic support systems for women on film sets, especially during physically demanding shoots. Over the years, the actor has consistently spoken up about gender imbalance and unsafe or uncomfortable work environments in the industry.
Known for critically acclaimed performances in films like Bangalore Days, Ennu Ninte Moideen, Uyare, Take Off, Virus and Puzhu, Parvathy continues to balance strong storytelling choices with outspoken advocacy.
She is currently working on two upcoming projects — I, Nobody and Pradhama Dhrishtya Kuttakkar.
