Even before the ugly Twitter incident, wherein well-known producer Gnanavel Raja’s wife used distasteful labels for T-town actresses, could die down, another verbal attack on film actresses has come to the fore.
In an interview that was broadcast last week and has now become viral, a regional news anchor, while conversing with actor Posani Krishna Murali, referred to actresses as ‘prostitutes’. But what’s even more shocking is that the actor did not show an iota of disgust or wrap the anchor for addressing his colleagues derogatorily. Instead, he simply asked him: “If we are so, then why do you need us for news?”
And now, Posani remains inaccessible — his phone switched off, he’s not reachable. Ditto many of the A-list actors.
“Don’t drag us in the controversy,” they say. Or they simply don’t take the call after asking what the topic is about. Thankfully, there are some who do react angrily.
Actress Hamsa Nandini said it is insane and beyond acceptance. “Posani garu should have walked off instead of continuing the interview. I would surely have done that. There’s no way one can associate such words (prostitutes) with us. I wonder how the channel aired such things and why no action has been initiated against them,” says the actress, angrily.
Nikesha Patel couldn’t have agreed more. “I would have slapped that anchor very hard and walked away immediately” shares Nikesha, adding, “Most of the actors in the industry are image conscious. That’s because they come here for work and may not like to get into such unnecessary tangles. I too spoke out strongly earlier when actresses were referred to in this manner, but the problem is it goes viral in social media for some time and then the buzz dies down. Just because we are in showbiz, we become soft targets. I also suggest that the news channel sack the news anchor.”
Rashmi Gautham has a different take on the misogynistic comments. She feels that Posani did the right thing by mocking the news anchor in his rejoinder. “Had Posani garu slapped the journo or walked away, the case would have taken a different turn, and the spotlight would have been on his actions. Unfortunately, this is not the first time actresses have been referred to as prostitutes. Although we have raised objection and reacted strongly to such issues, every other day, such comments continue to be passed. We have reached a saturation point where we have started ignoring such things rather than reacting and giving it unnecessary publicity,” says Rashmi.
