Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], January 14: Tollywood director Trinadha Rao Nakkina has issued an apology following criticism over comments he made about actress Anshu’s physical appearance.
At the teaser launch event for his upcoming film Mazaka in Hyderabad on Sunday, the director made remarks about Anshu’s physique that were perceived as derogatory. His comments sparked a wave of backlash on social media.
During the event, as the cast and crew discussed the film, Trinadha Rao commented on Anshu’s body, stating, “When she came as a heroine in a movie, I could not believe it. Is she still like that? She is thin now. I only asked her to eat some food and gain weight because it is not enough for Telugu audiences. Everything should be in big sizes. It’s okay. She has improved a bit, and she will improve more by next time.”
These comments, intended to be humorous by the director, were widely criticized for body-shaming, particularly on social media.
In response to the negative reaction, Trinadha Rao posted an apology in a self-recorded video, explaining that his words were not meant to hurt anyone. He said, “The comments I made at the Mazaka teaser release event were not intentional, and I only said them to make everyone laugh. However, since many women were hurt by my words, I unconditionally apologize.”
Anshu, who is returning to the screen after two decades with Mazaka, is known for her role in the 2002 hit film Manmadhudu, where she starred alongside Nagarjuna and Sonali Bendre. The upcoming film also features Sundeep Kishan and Rao Ramesh.