Lakshmi Manchu has filed a formal complaint against a senior journalist Murthy from Great Andhra website for allegedly making bodyshaming and ageist remarks about her dressing style during a recent interview. The actress lodged the complaint with the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC), emphasizing the need for respect and accountability in professional spaces for women.
According to Lakshmi, the journalist's comments were not only demeaning but also reflected a deeper issue of casual misogyny in the industry. In her statement to the TFCC, Lakshmi highlighted the contrast between India's cultural reverence for women and the harsh reality of workplace conduct. "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 stated.
Lakshmi demanded a public apology from the journalist, stressing that "respect is not optional. Accountability is not negotiable." She also welcomed tough questions and public scrutiny but drew a line at "cruelty masked as journalism". Lakshmi further spoke about the bias against divorced women in the film industry, citing the example of a superstar's ex-wife who has been unofficially blacklisted despite being open to work.
She emphasized the need for women to take charge of their lives, saying, "No one gives us freedom. We have to take it ourselves." Lakshmi's latest film, Daksha: A Deadly Conspiracy, has been released amidst this controversy, with the actress using the platform to speak out against misogyny and bias in the industry.