Janhvi Kapoor‘s portrayal in the Ram Charan-starrer ‘Peddi’ has become the talk of the town. Now, Telugu actress Dimple Hayathi has come out in strong support of her colleague. Taking to X on Sunday, Hayathi made it clear that the blame lies not with the actress, but with the filmmakers and the industry system that shapes how women are written and presented on screen.
Dimple Hayathi backs Janhvi Kapoor; slams the system and the makers
Amid the ongoing backlash over ‘Peddi’, Dimple Hayathi has voiced her support for Janhvi Kapoor, whose role in the film received criticism from a section of the audience. Many viewers accused the film of objectifying women through its camera work, dialogues, and romantic sequences involving Ram Charan and Kapoor.Hayathi took to her X handle on Sunday to address the issue directly. She wrote, “I’m so glad that today, on this day, we are all speaking about how actresses’ roles are being written and the instinctive response to blame the actress for doing what she was offered. Don’t blame the actress; blame the system and makers who really think that’s what sells. We actors, work within the opportunities we get, trying to make it big and hoping to work in bigger films and reach wider audiences.“Hayathi further highlighted how actors, particularly actresses, are often judged by the characters they play rather than their actual capabilities. She added, “Unfortunately, we are stereotyped by our image and by how things unfold with the characters we play, without getting the opportunity to showcase our full potential as performers. Whereas when hero-centred stories take over, they have the liberty to project. What we see is what we believe, unfortunately. Nobody knows what goes into filmmaking; it is not under one person’s control. But we can all unanimously agree that we deserve better experiences and better filmmaking.”
Director Buchi Babu Sana apologises and promises changes to ‘Peddi’
A day earlier, on Saturday, ‘Peddi’ director Buchi Babu Sana had also responded to the criticism via X. He wrote, “We have heard the feedback regarding certain scenes in Peddi and have taken it seriously. I have always had immense respect for women, both on and off screen, and it was never our intention to objectify or disrespect any female character. If any part of the film has been perceived that way, we respect those sentiments, understand the concerns being raised, and sincerely apologise.“Sana confirmed that the team had reviewed the objectionable portions and would be making the necessary edits. He added, “Cinema grows through its connection with audiences, and as storytellers, we have a responsibility to be mindful of evolving perspectives and sensitivities. Every woman deserves to be respected, valued and represented with dignity.”
More about ‘Peddi’
Janhvi Kapoor has not yet publicly commented on the controversy. Released on June 4, ‘Peddi’ has crossed Rs 200 crore at the global box office.
