Tollywood women demand action against Sivaji

Several women professionals from Telugu film industry on Tuesday demanded that Movie Artists’ Association take stern action against actor Sivaji, also a member of MAA, for making derogatory comments against women while participating in a press meet as part of film promotion.

In a letter to Manchu Vishnu, president of Movie artists Association in the name of “Voice of Women,” prominent Tollywood film personalities - Nandini Reddy, Supriya Yarlagadda, Swapna Dutt, Lakshmi Manchu and Jhansi Laxmi, said Sivaji’s speech was policing women's clothing and reinforced regressive, patriarchal narratives. 

“Such remarks are not only inappropriate but deeply damaging, especially when made by individuals who benefit from and influence the film industry,” they said.

They took strong exception to the choice of words that Sivaji had used, which were derogatory in Telugu like "Saamanlu,” “Daridrapu Munda."

They said such remarks also gave an explicit physical threat to actresses which can be considered insulting the modesty of women, according to BNS 509 section, which is a punishable offense.

“We strongly demand a public and unconditional apology from actor Shivaji for his remarks that shame, insult women and attempt to impose moral standards on their personal choices. “Otherwise we will be forced to approach the legal route,” they said.

They said policing women's attire, saree or otherwise, is unacceptable and has no place in a modern, creative industry. Equally concerning is the selective silence of the industry when women face real threats. 

“When actresses Nidhi Agarwal and Samantha were recently mobbed, the lack of collective outrage and accountability was alarming. This raises a critical question: why is there loud moral policing of women, but muted response when their safety and dignity are violated?” they asked.

The Tollywood women professionals said, they want, beyond an apology, clear accountability and action from the Movie Artists Association.

They demanded a formal code of conduct prohibiting misogynistic, sexist, or moral-policing statements by industry members, with defined consequences for violations.

They also want a robust safety and protection protocol for women artists during public appearances, promotions, and events, including crowd control and security coordination and mandatory sensitization and gender-awareness programs for actors and industry stakeholders.

They demanded a public statement from the MAA affirming that women's safety, autonomy, and dignity are non-negotiable.

“Shaming women while ignoring harassment only normalizes control and violence. An industry that thrives on glamour and visibility cannot abdicate responsibility when that same visibility puts women at risk,” they said, adding that women deserve freedom, safety, and respect - not policing, hypocrisy, or silence.