Mamitha Baiju, who gained widespread recognition for her role in the Malayalam film Premalu, recently faced controversy involving director Bala, who is known for his work on films like Sethu and Naan Kadavul. The actress had previously made headlines when she alleged that Bala had tortured her on the sets of Vanangan, a film in which she was originally cast alongside Suriya.
The film faced its own set of challenges, including Suriya’s departure due to creative differences with the director, and the subsequent recasting of Arun Vijay in the lead role. Mamitha Baiju’s involvement also changed after Suriya’s exit, with Keerthy Suresh initially slated to play the female lead opposite him, while Mamitha was to portray Suriya’s sister. Following the changes, rumors circulated about the mistreatment of Mamitha Baiju by Bala, particularly after she mentioned in an interview that the director had attempted to strike her.
However, Bala clarified these rumors during the Vanangan promotional events. He stated that the reports about him physically assaulting Mamitha Baiju were false. According to Bala, the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding on set when Mamitha showed up with makeup applied by a makeup artist from Mumbai. Bala, who did not prefer makeup, allegedly became upset and raised his hand, not to hit her but to express his frustration. He emphasized that he never intended to harm her and stressed that Mamitha was like a daughter to him. Bala concluded by asserting that there was no truth to the rumors of abuse, aiming to clear the air about the incident.