Voice of Women, a body comprising more than 100 women from the Telugu film industry, has demanded an unconditional apology from actor Sivaji for his recent remarks about actresses' dress code. The body has written a letter to the Movie Artists Association, demanding action against him. The body is represented by director Nandini Reddy, Supriya Yarlagadda, Swapna Dutt, Lakshmi Manchu, and Jhansi Laxmi.
"His speech was policing women’s clothing and reinforce 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. The choice of words that he used were derogatory in Telugu and 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," the letter says.
"We strongly demand a public and UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY from actor Sivaji 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. 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," the letter adds.
"When actresses Nidhhi Agerwal 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? Therefore, beyond an apology, we seek clear accountability and action from the MAA. We request your association to immediately outline and implement the following measures: A formal code of conduct prohibiting misogynistic, sexist, or moral-policing statements by industry members, with defined consequences for violations; A robust safety and protection protocol for women artists during public appearances, promotions, and events, including crowd control and security coordination; Mandatory sensitization and gender-awareness programs for actors and industry stakeholders; A public statement from the Association 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."