Divyabharathi calls out director Naresh Kuppili for sexist remarks on GOAT set
Telugu actor Divyabharathi publicly accused director Naresh Kuppili of calling her "chilaka," a word often used to belittle women in Telugu, while filming GOAT.
She also pointed out that co-star Sudigali Sudheer stayed silent during these moments.
Why this matters
Divyabharathi posted on X, saying, "Calling women 'Chilaka' or any other term isn't a harmless joke - it's a reflection of deep-rooted misogyny (sic)."
She shared that this wasn't just a one-off incident; Kuppili repeatedly disrespected women on set and remarked that she was suited only for the role of a "second lead actress."
Her bigger message
She emphasized the need for film sets where women are treated with respect and dignity.
While some online criticized her for speaking up, she clarified her issue is with Kuppili's behavior—not the industry as a whole—and called again for safer, more respectful workplaces in cinema.