The controversy surrounding actor Shivaji’s comments on heroines’ dressing during the Dhandoraa pre-release event has escalated significantly, and the actor reacted with an apology. What began as backlash from netizens and a few film personalities has now drawn a strong response from a collective called Voice of Women – TFI, representing over 100 women professionals in the Telugu Film Industry.

In a formal email sent to the President of the Movie Artists Association, the group condemned Shivaji’s remarks as misogynistic, regressive, and insulting to women’s dignity. They pointed out that his language, including slurs and moral policing, not only disrespects women but could also violate legal provisions under BNS Section 509, which deals with insulting the modesty of women.

The letter demands a public and unconditional apology from Shivaji for his comments and urges the Movie Artists Association to take accountability. It also proposes four key measures to prevent such incidents in the future

But before things go further, actor Shivaji responded with an apology video, in which he expressed deep regret for his remarks. He said that his intentions are not bad, but a few words that he used were not right. He said that he always treats women as goddesses, and he felt bad that a few incidents happened to actresses in the recent past.