Actress Lakshmi Manchu has reportedly filed an official complaint against a senior journalist, accusing him of ‘body-shaming’ her and making ‘ageist’ remarks during a recent interview. The controversy erupted during a recent promotional event, when the actress sat down for a candid chat. However, during the chat, the man allegedly criticised her dressing choices, suggesting they were “inappropriate” for a mother and a woman in her 40s.
Lakshmi’s statement
Taking the legal route, Lakshmi, according to cinemaexpress, submitted a formal statement to the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC). In her note, she wrote, “India is a country that reveres women as Shakti, yet when we step into professional spaces, we are subjected to casual misogyny, humiliation, and disrespect. This cannot continue. I owe it not only to myself but to the many young women who look up to me to call this out.”She emphasised that while she remains open to criticism as a public figure, derogatory remarks are unacceptable. “I will always be open to tough questions, to criticism, and to scrutiny as a public figure. But I will not tolerate cruelty masked as journalism,” she said.
Actress demands apology
Lakshmi has demanded a public apology from the journalist and urged TFCC to ensure that such incidents are not repeated. “Respect is not optional. Accountability is not negotiable,” she added.
About the controversy
Early this week, a video of the actress schooling a man went viral online. In the clip, when asked about her dressing sense, she asked, “Would you ask a man the same question? How dare you! How dare you ask me that question?” As reported by BollywoodShaadis, she fumed at the man saying, “Would you say, Mahesh Babu, you are 50 now, why are you going shirtless? Then how do you ask a woman the same thing?”On the work front, Lakshmi Manchu’s latest film ‘Daksha’ hit theatres this Friday.
