Actress-producer Manchu Lakshmi has formally lodged a complaint with the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) against senior journalist VSN Murthy, following a controversial interview that sparked widespread outrage. The incident occurred during a promotional interaction for her latest film, Daksha: A Deadly Conspiracy, where the journalist allegedly made ageist and body-shaming remarks about Lakshmi’s appearance and choice of attire.
During the interview, Murthy reportedly asked, “Why are you wearing such dresses when you are approaching 50 years old?” In response, Lakshmi sharply questioned the journalist’s intent and gender bias, stating, “Where did you get the courage to ask such a question? Mahesh Babu is also nearing 50. Can you ask him why he is walking around shirtless? Why would you question a woman like this?”
Lakshmi’s reaction gained significant support online, with many praising her for confronting sexism in the entertainment industry. However, she did not stop at verbal rebuttal. In her written complaint to TFCC, she condemned the journalist’s conduct as “cruelty masked as journalism” and called for disciplinary action. She emphasized that while she welcomes scrutiny and tough questions as a public figure, personal attacks and misogynistic commentary are unacceptable.
“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,” she wrote. “I owe it not only to myself but to many young women who look up to me to call this out. Respect is not optional. Accountability is not negotiable.”
Lakshmi also highlighted the broader issue of gender bias in the film industry, particularly against divorced women. In a separate interview, she noted that a superstar’s ex-wife had been unofficially blacklisted post-divorce, despite being open to work. She remarked, “If a man gets divorced, his life doesn’t change. But for a woman, once she marries, has children… no one gives us freedom. We have to take it ourselves.”
The complaint has triggered a wider conversation within Tollywood about journalistic ethics, gender sensitivity, and the treatment of women in media. The TFCC is expected to review the matter and consider appropriate action.
Lakshmi Manchu’s stand reflects a growing demand for accountability and respect in professional spaces, especially for women in the entertainment industry.
