New Delhi : Divyabharathi called out the director of GOAT, Naresh Kuppili, for misbehaving with her during the shoot. Slamming his misogynistic conduct, she also accused him of using a derogatory term for her. The actress went on to question her co-star Sudigali Sudheer for not intervening. Divyabharathi shared a screenshot of a tweet where Naresh called her ‘chilaka’ (which means bird in Telugu, it is also used as a misogynistic term to describe a woman) and as someone who deserves to be a ‘second lead actress’.
AICWA comes out in Divyabharathi’s support
All Indian Cine Workers Association has now taken a strong stand in favour of Divyabharathi and demanded the formation of a ‘Women Redressal Committee’. In a tweet, AICWA wrote, “Unfortunately, many such incidents occur but are often suppressed. AICWA deeply appreciates Divya Bharathi’s courage in raising her voice against this humiliation, and the entire AICWA team stands firmly with her in every step she takes.”
The statement further read, “Many individuals across the industry suffer similar experiences, but most victims remain silent out of fear that influential groups may block their opportunities and destroy their careers. This fear prevents them from coming forward. Therefore, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) strongly demands the formation of a ‘Women Redressal Committee,’ chaired by a retired female judge, dedicated to hearing and addressing complaints from women across the Indian film industry. The allegations raised by Divya once again highlight the urgent need for a transparent, independent, and trustworthy mechanism where women can seek justice without fear. Women are the dignity of every household, and no one should be allowed to disrespect them.”
AICWA urged the “National Commission for Women (NCW) to take immediate cognizance of Divya Bharathi’s case and initiate strict action against those responsible. It is essential that such incidents are dealt with firmly so that no woman in the film industry feels unsafe or threatened while performing her professional duties.”
Divya Bharathi is an Indian actress who primarily works in the Tamil film industry. Recently, she spoke out against the director of the film GOAT, Naresh Kuppili. According to Divya, the director made several inappropriate remarks towards her, and she courageously disclosed this… pic.twitter.com/j77FJ3Cswk
Divyabharathi accuses Naresh Kuppili of misbehaviour
On November 19, Divyabharathi tweeted, “Calling women “Chilaka” or any other term isn’t a harmless joke, it’s a reflection of deep-rooted misogyny. And this wasn’t a one-off incident; this director followed the same pattern on set too, repeatedly disrespecting women and honestly, betraying the very art he claims to create. What disappointed me most was seeing the hero stay silent, allowing this culture to survive one more day. I choose better… I choose workspaces where women aren’t targets for mockery, where every voice matters, and where respect is non-negotiable. This is not just a choice; it’s my standard as an artist and as a woman!”
The National Commission for Women is yet to react to the incident.
