"It wasn't easy": Bhavana Menon opens up on alleged assault by Dileep

Bhavana was reportedly attacked, kidnapped, and molested in Kochi in 2017. Dileep was the main accused in the case. As per the law, the media and the police had withheld Bhavana's name and hid her identity.

All these years, Bhavana never spoke to the media or went public about what happened to her. But she has finally opened up.

"This has not been an easy journey. The journey from being a victim to becoming a survivor. For 5 years now, my name and my identity have been suppressed under the weight of the assault inflicted on me. Though I am not the one who had committed the crime, there have been many attempts to humiliate, silence and isolate me. But at such times I have had some who stepped forward to keep my voice alive. Now when I hear so many voices speak up for me I know that I am not alone in this fight for justice," she wrote on social media.

The actress further wrote, "To see justice prevail, to get wrongdoers punished and to ensure no one else goes through such an ordeal again, I shall continue this journey. For all those who are standing with me - a heartfelt thank you for your love."

Many celebrities from the Malayalam industry shared her post and showed their love and support.

Unfortunately, like Bhavana said, the journey from being a victim to a survivor is not an easy one. It is easy for people to ask why victims do not name their predators. But there are a lot of unseen circumstances that contribute to this.

We are glad that Bhavana is being showered with the love she needs and deserves.