Media misleading public perception of film industry: Suresh Gopi

Thiruvananthapuram: Actor-turned politician Union Minister of State for Tourism and Petroleum Suresh Gopi has justified that allegations had only come up against Malayalam film personalities.

He also slammed the media for reporting the sexual allegations being raised by women in the film industry.

"The media is like those making goats fight each other and consume their blood. It is your feed. But you are destroying a big industry. Only allegations have come up so far. Let the court take a decision on those," an agitated Gopi told reporters on Tuesday. Later he also pushed aside reporters who sought his reactions at Thrissur.

The remarks of Gopi, who is BJP's maiden Lok Sabha MP from Kerala, has not gone down well with the BJP state leadership.

BJP state President K Surendran told reporters that what Gopi said was his personal opinion only. As an actor Gopi has the freedom to give his opinion. BJP's stand is that the actor and CPM MLA M Mukesh, who is facing sexual allegations, should quit the MLA post, said Surendran.

A recent statement of Gopi that acting was his passion and he would resume acting from next month had also irked the BJP leadership as the centre reportedly denied permission for him for acting while holding the minister post.

Gopi had also stated that he would go for private commercial events only on remuneration basis like other film stars.