'No casting couch…' says Chiranjeevi; Chinmayi responds bringing 'full commitment' to light

Chiranjeevi and Chinmayi

• Chinmayi Sripaada disagrees with Chiranjeevi's comments on casting couch culture
• She says casting couch practices remain common and systemic in the film industry
• Chinmayi warns newcomers about misleading industry jargon like "commitment."

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Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has strongly disagreed with veteran Telugu actor Chiranjeevi's recent comments downplaying the prevalence of casting couch culture in the film industry, saying that his words do not reflect the experiences of many women.

Chiranjeevi had said at a public event in Hyderabad that there was no 'casting couch' and that experiences were different for each person.

He also said that 'the industry is like a mirror; it reflects who you are.' Many people online quickly criticised his comments, saying that the actor was putting the blame on the victims.

Chinmayi denied the claim on social media platform X, saying that casting couch practices are still common and systemic. She wrote that women are often turned down for jobs if they don't offer what is euphemistically called "full commitment." She said this term means something very different in the film industry.

Chinmayi told several disturbing stories, one of which was about a woman who went to India for work and was allegedly attacked.

She stressed that these kinds of things don't happen in a vacuum and can't be written off as personal character flaws. She argued against Chiranjeevi's "mirror" analogy by saying that many young women who are getting into the industry today are educated, have traveled the world, and know all the professional boundaries, but they are still being taken advantage of.

The singer also talked again about her own MeToo claim against famous lyricist Vairamuthu. She said that she was a young adult who saw him as a mentor and felt safe even with her mother nearby. She wrote, "Having a parent around doesn't change anything with men like this," stressing that entitlement and abuse of power are the main issues.

Chinmayi warned newcomers not to misread industry jargon by pointing out how professionals use it incorrectly. She said that women who went to English-speaking schools often think that "commitment" means being professional and dedicated to work, but later find out that men in power use it as a hidden way to ask for sexual favors.

Chinmayi also mentioned other alleged instances of misconduct in a series of posts. These included attempted sexual assault in professional studios and repeated harassment by industry figures who, she said, are still celebrated and given platforms despite past allegations.

Chinmayi thought about how different generations are, and she said that actors like Chiranjeevi came from a time when many male and female co-artists worked together with respect. She did say, though, that the current state of the industry has different problems, such as power imbalances and unchecked behavior that hurt women.

She also talked about the backlash against the MeToo movement, remembering how some well-known people dismissed or criticized women who spoke out, which made it harder for people to be held accountable and for people to talk about workplace harassment.

Since then, Chiranjeevi's comments have been widely criticized on social media, with many users and industry experts calling for more care and responsibility when talking about sexual harassment and abuse of power in the film industry.