There has been a big controversy in the Telugu film industry over comments made by the veteran actor Chiranjeevi about the casting couch. Chiranjeevi, celebrating the box-office success of Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, said the industry is a “mirror” and that sexual harassment is often a result of an individual’s lack of professional boundaries.
Chiranjeevi’s Controversial Position
Speaking at the success meet in Hyderabad on January 25, Chiranjeevi declared: “There is no casting couch culture as such, it depends on the person. If you’re strict and serious, no one is going to get away with taking advantage of you. This industry is like a mirror: whatever you project is projected back.” The actor cited his daughter, the costume designer Sushmita Konidela, and the daughters of prominent producers as illustrations of women who have done well without encountering these "bitter experiences," implying that those who do face harassment are partially at fault.
Chinmayi’s Sharp Rebuttal
Chinmayi Sripaada, a singer and dubbing artist who has garnered intense professional criticism over naming lyricist Vairamuthu in the 2018 MeToo movement, took to social media to vehemently contradict the megastar's allegations.
The ‘Commitment’ Euphemism
Chinmayi pointed out that in the industry, the word “commitment” is commonly cited as a euphemism for sexual favors. Women are often denied a role if they do not offer “full commitment,” she argued.
Systemic Power Play: "Men stay in environments where they think they deserve sexual favors," she said, also noting that the presence of even a parent as occurred during her own alleged experience with Vairamuthu doesn’t prevent predators. Ignores the mirror analogy: According to Chinmayi, the industry does not reflect the “mirror” it provides in reality; as she argued.
Many women joining the industry today are highly educated and professional, she said, but are preyed upon by men who think sex is a fair exchange for paid employment.
Deepening Divides in the Industry
The debate has divided social media. Although some have praised Chiranjeevi’s request for professionalism, many activists and netizens have derided him for his comments being “out of touch.” On Jan. 28, the controversy deepened following a viral video on the internet of an old clip of director K. Raghavendra Rao appearing to make actor Niharika Konidela (Chiranjeevi’s niece) uncomfortable at an event, used by critics to show that “professionalism” did not stop undesired physical contact.
The Road Ahead
Chinmayi’s response highlights a long-standing schism between the “old guard” of cinema and its latest generation, now demanding that accountability be institutionalized. Even as the Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu team makes further progress in its victory lap, the specter of this discussion hangs over those who believe the industry is a “safe and great place to work” still.
