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Although we live in 2025, misogyny and sexism remain deeply ingrained in the minds of many, almost inseparably. While women in general are unfortunately forced to navigate these issues on a daily or even hourly basis, the situation is often worse for female actors, who must do so under constant public scrutiny. Actor-anchor Aishwarya Raghupathi recently found herself at the receiving end of such mistreatment when a mediaperson asked a tasteless question about her attire during a press meet. Although he attempted to cover it up by claiming he was merely pointing out that cotton sarees are summer-friendly, it was more than evident to many, including Aishwarya, that he was referring to her sleeveless blouse.
The incident in question reportedly happened a fortnight ago while Aishwarya was hosting a promotional event. Speaking on the occasion, she advised the audience to stay cool and hydrated to beat the intense summer heat. Seizing the moment, a male reporter crudely asked whether her attire — she was wearing a green saree and sleeveless blouse — was part of her strategy to cope with the weather. Shocked by the inappropriate question posed in front of a crowd, it took Aishwarya a moment to collect herself. When she asked why her clothes were even a topic of discussion at a film-related event, the reporter defended his comment, insisting he was simply highlighting the practicality of cotton sarees in summer seasons and demanded a “simple yes or no” answer from her. Aishwarya, however, ended the discussion by replying that she didn’t know how to respond to such a question.
At a more recent event, she addressed the matter directly and at length. She also criticised the other media personnel present at the earlier event for their silence. “It took me five seconds to realise you asked if I wore sleeveless to feel the breeze. I didn’t know whether to respond in anger or stay calm. I may not have reacted then, but the people did.” She went on to call the reporter’s subsequent Facebook post a “crooked justification” and asked, “Do men like you think you can overpower me because I stayed patient?”
However, rather than reflect on the criticism, some members of the media at the event appeared offended and threatened by seeing a woman raising questions against a man’s alleged misbehaviour. In a video that has since gone viral, a few reporters, particularly the senior ones, can be seen aggressively approaching the podium to defend their colleague. Undeterred, Aishwarya continued, “What was the link between drinking water and my saree? Why didn’t any of you question him then?”
As tensions escalated, the event organisers intervened and ushered her off the stage to proceed with the event. Last week, Aishwarya, also known for her role in director Arun Matheswaran’s Dhanush-starrer Captain Miller (2024), released a statement addressing the issue: “It’s disheartening that even today, many men in our society still carry a sense of male ego and chauvinism. What’s even more disappointing is when such behaviour comes from someone like a reporter, who should know better.”
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