• Source:JND
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Actor Divyabharathi has spoken out against Telugu director Naresh Kuppili, accusing him of using sexist and disrespectful language towards her during the filming of the Telugu movie GOAT. In a detailed social media post, she said the director repeatedly behaved in a derogatory manner and referred to her with a misogynistic slang term. She also questioned why her co-star Sudigali Sudheer did not step in, sharing that the silence from people around her was just as disappointing as the remark itself. Her post has sparked a wider discussion about workplace respect and accountability in the film industry.

Divyabharathi shared a screenshot in which Naresh Kuppili allegedly called her ‘Chilaka’, a Telugu word meaning ‘bird’ but commonly used as a sexist insult aimed at women. The director had also suggested that she was fit only for the role of a ‘second lead actress’. Sharing this publicly, Divyabharathi wrote, “Calling women ‘Chilaka’ or any other term isn’t a harmless joke it’s a reflection of deep-rooted misogyny.” She added that this was not an isolated incident, stating, “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.” Her post quickly went viral, drawing attention from fans, industry followers, and social media users.

Divyabharathi Calls Out Sudigali Sudheer 

In her post, Divyabharathi also expressed disappointment with her co-star Sudigali Sudheer. She questioned why he did not speak up when the director made the remarks. She wrote, “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!” Some users on social media criticised her for frequently getting into conflicts, to which she replied, “I’ve worked repeatedly with the same team, actors and crews in Tamil cinema with zero conflicts. Only this one director crossed lines and made disrespectful comments. He chose to make it public, and I have every right to respond.”

 
 
 
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A post shared by Divyabharathi (@divyabharathioffl)

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Background Of GOAT Controversy

Meanwhile, the issues between Divyabharathi and Naresh Kuppili reportedly began after the director was removed from the GOAT project following internal disagreements. The producer later took over direction, and since then, Naresh is said to have posted indirect comments aimed at the actress on social media. Divyabharathi stated that her concern extends beyond one remark and is about the wider pattern of behaviour she experienced on set. She is currently working on the Tamil project Madhil Mel Kaadha and the upcoming web series Lingam.


 

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