Veteran actress Anu Aggarwal, best known for her iconic role in the 1990 blockbuster 'Aashiqui', has entered the ongoing conversation surrounding the 'Peddi' controversy. The film, featuring Janhvi Kapoor, has drawn criticism from a section of viewers who feel that her character has been unnecessarily sexualised and objectified. While Janhvi has yet to publicly address the backlash, Anu stepped in with a piece of advice for young actors navigating such challenging situations.
Anu Aggarwal's Advice to Young Actors
Speaking from her own life experience, Anu Aggarwal urged actors to "hear the story first, ask questions, and if something compromises human dignity, have the courage to say no." She revealed that she had turned down many film offers and eventually left the industry because she refused to be part of projects that disrespected women. On June 7, she took to Instagram to share her thoughts, writing, "The recent conversations around Peddi reminded me of a choice I made long ago. I applaud today's audience for speaking up and asking for more dignity in the portrayal of women. But responsibility does not rest only with the audience. Nor does it rest only with filmmakers. It rests with us actors too."
She elaborated on her own journey, stating, "More than 30 years ago, after Aashiqui, I made it a point to hear the story before signing a film. Objectification of women was the norm. I chose to act against that norm. The films I did stand testimony to that choice. In many ways, that is one of the reasons I eventually walked away from films." She concluded her post with an empowering message: "Today, I encourage young actors and actresses to hear the story first. Ask questions. And if something compromises human dignity, have the courage to say no. Stories will change when audiences demand better. But they will also change when we actors refuse to participate in what we no longer believe in."
Director Buchi Babu Sana Responds to Controversy
As online criticism continued to grow louder, director Buchi Babu Sana finally broke his silence and addressed the controversy head-on. He took to social media to issue a public apology and also confirmed that the scenes at the centre of the backlash would be edited out of the film. This move has been widely appreciated by audiences who have been vocal about their discomfort with the portrayal of women in the film.
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