Telugu actor Sivaji appeared before the Telangana State Women’s Commission on Saturday, December 27, to address the fallout from controversial remarks he made during a recent film event. The commission had summoned him for a personal hearing after taking suo motu cognisance of his speech at the pre-release event for his movie, Dandora. In that speech, Sivaji reportedly made derogatory comments regarding women’s clothing, linking "revealing" outfits to public harassment— a stance that many criticised as regressive victim-blaming.
The commission's notice, issued on December 23, stated that his remarks appeared to be a deliberate attempt to defame women, particularly those in Telangana. Under the Telangana Women’s Commission Act of 1998, the panel required his personal appearance to explain the context of his statements. On Saturday morning, the actor reached the Hyderabad office to provide his testimony. The panel is now set to examine his detailed explanation before deciding whether to recommend formal measures or close the inquiry.
While Sivaji has already issued a public apology for using what he called "unparliamentary" language, the controversy has not entirely ended. He maintains that his intentions were rooted in a concern for safety rather than an intent to degrade, but rights groups and public figures have argued that his comments shifted the burden of safety onto women's choices. The commission’s final decision is expected to be announced once they have fully reviewed his statement from today's hearing.
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