Actress Divyabharathi has ignited a fresh debate on workplace culture in the Telugu film industry after publicly calling out filmmaker Naresh Kuppili and actor Sudigali Sudheer over alleged misogynistic behavior during the making of their film, ‘GOAT’.
The actress took to social media to share her ordeal, accusing director Kuppili of using derogatory language towards her. She stated that the director allegedly referred to her using a Telugu slang term for women, “Chilaka” (which translates to ‘bird’ but is used disrespectfully), and questioned her suitability for lead roles.
In a strongly worded statement, Divyabharathi expressed deep disappointment with her co-star, Sudigali Sudheer, for his silence on the matter.
She wrote, “What disappointed me most was seeing the hero stay silent, allowing this culture to survive one more day. I choose better… This director followed the same pattern on set, repeatedly disrespecting women.”
The post has sparked significant discussion, with many fans and industry observers questioning the need for a safer, more respectful environment in filmmaking.