Producer and actor Sandra Thomas recently opened up about a troubling issue in the Malayalam film industry, revealing a deep-rooted drug problem during an interview with OnManorama. She stated that the drug crisis in Mollywood has escalated to the point where producers are now allocating specific budgets and even designating rooms for drug use on film sets.
Sandra emphasized that industry associations missed the chance to act decisively against drug use years ago. “Everyone knew what was going on during shoots, but no one took meaningful action because they wanted to keep these individuals for future projects,” she explained. According to her, the problem has become so normalized that funds and spaces are explicitly reserved for it. However, the associations argue that blaming the entire industry for the actions of a few is unfair.
Sandra didn’t hold back her criticism, pointing fingers at producer Listin Stephen. She questioned, “Are prominent figures like Listin unaware of the rampant drug availability on sets? Why have they refused to address this issue?” She further highlighted that drug use has become widespread among men and women of all ranks in the industry. Fear of project delays and damage to actors’ reputations prevents producers from filing complaints. “When someone is caught, shootings stop, and the actor’s image suffers,” she added.
Adding to the conversation, superstar Mohanlal addressed the issue through his NGO, Viswasanthi Foundation, on his birthday. He launched a year-long Anti-Drug Campaign called “Be A Hero,” urging young people to reject drugs. Sharing a video on X (formerly Twitter), Mohanlal said, “The greatest high is dreaming and achieving success in life. We’re committed to this mission with our youth. Be a Hero in the fight against drugs. Let’s pledge to stay away from drugs and protect our loved ones. Say no to drugs!”
