January 14, 2025: Telugu director and producer Tammareddy Bharadwaj has strongly condemned the controversial remarks made by director Trinadha Rao Nakkina regarding actress Anshu's physical appearance at the teaser launch event for the film Mazaka. Bharadwaj criticized the director's comments, which suggested that Anshu needed to gain weight for her role in the film, calling them inappropriate and in poor taste.
At the event, Rao had remarked, "When she came as a heroine in a movie, I could not believe it. Is she still like that? She is thin now, I only asked her to eat some food and increase weight because it is not enough for Telugu (audience). Everything should be in big sizes. It's okay. She has improved a bit, she will improve more by next time." These comments sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many accusing Rao of body-shaming the actress.
In response to the backlash, Rao issued a self-recorded video apology, stating that his remarks were intended as humor and were not meant to hurt anyone. However, Bharadwaj expressed his disapproval, stating that using women's appearances for film promotions was highly inappropriate and should not be tolerated in the industry. He emphasized that simply issuing an apology was not enough and suggested that the Women’s Commission should step in to address such issues. He added that this was not an isolated incident but part of a larger cultural problem in the Indian film industry, where women are often subjected to inappropriate comments, even at award shows.
Anshu, who is making her return to the industry after a two-decade break with Mazaka, responded to the controversy by clarifying that Rao’s words were taken out of context. In a self-recorded video, she praised Rao as a kind and respectful person, describing him as "the loveliest man on the planet." Anshu emphasized that her experience working with him had been nothing but positive and urged fans to focus on the excitement around the film’s release rather than the controversy. The film, which also stars Sundeep Kishan and Ritu Varma, is set to release on February 21, 2025.
While Anshu defended the director, Bharadwaj’s comments shed light on the larger issue of body-shaming and the need for stronger accountability in the industry.
