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More than 100 women professionals from the Telugu Film Industry (TFI) have submitted a strongly worded letter to the Movie Artists Association (MAA), raising serious objections to recent comments made by actor Sivaji during a public press meet for the film Dandora. The women have described his remarks on women’s clothing as regressive, misogynistic, and deeply harmful, especially coming from a senior industry figure with significant public influence.

In their representation, the women stated that Sivaji’s comments amounted to moral policing of women and reinforced patriarchal attitudes that have no place in a modern, creative industry. They also strongly objected to the derogatory Telugu language allegedly used by the actor and pointed out that his statements included explicit physical threats directed at actresses. According to the signatories, such remarks could be interpreted as insulting the modesty of women and may attract legal consequences under BNS Section 509.

The letter demands an immediate, public, and unconditional apology from Sivaji. The women warned that failure to issue such an apology would leave them with no option but to explore legal remedies. They emphasized that policing women’s attire—whether sarees or any other form of clothing—is unacceptable and directly undermines women’s autonomy, dignity, and freedom of choice.

The women professionals also called attention to what they described as the industry’s selective silence on women’s safety. Referring to recent incidents in which actresses Nidhhi Agerwal and Samantha were allegedly mobbed during public appearances, they questioned why there was vocal moral outrage over women’s clothing choices, but comparatively muted responses when women faced real and immediate threats to their safety. This, they said, exposed a troubling double standard within the industry.

Beyond demanding an apology, the letter urges the Movie Artists Association to take concrete and visible action. Their demands include framing a formal code of conduct to prevent sexist and misogynistic remarks by members, implementing robust safety protocols for women artists at public events, introducing mandatory gender-sensitization programs for industry stakeholders, and issuing a clear public statement affirming that women’s safety, dignity, and autonomy are non-negotiable.

Issued under the banner “Voice of Women,” the letter is represented by prominent industry figures such as filmmaker Nandini Reddy, producers Supriya Yarlagadda and Swapna Dutt, actor Lakshmi Manchu, and actor-anchor Jhansi Laxmi. The women concluded by stating that an industry built on visibility and glamour cannot abdicate responsibility when that visibility places women at risk, and called upon MAA to take a firm, principled stand on the issue.