A collective of over 100 women professionals from the Telugu Film Industry, under the banner Voice of Women, has written to the Movie Artists Association (MAA) demanding a public and unconditional apology from actor Sivaji for his recent remarks made at the Dhandoraa film press meet.
In the letter, the group stated that Sivaji’s comments amounted to policing women’s attire and reinforcing regressive patriarchal narratives, calling them inappropriate and damaging. They also alleged that certain remarks were derogatory and could potentially fall under Section 509 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with insulting the modesty of women.
The collective further raised concerns over the industry’s selective silence when women face real safety threats, citing recent mobbing incidents involving actresses Nidhhi Agerwal and Samantha.
Beyond seeking an apology, Voice of Women urged MAA to implement a code of conduct, strengthen safety protocols, and mandate gender-sensitization programs. As of now, there has been no official response from either Sivaji or MAA.
