Actor Divyabharathi who is best known for her role in the Tamil film Bachelor opposite GV Prakash, took to social media on Wednesday to slam director Naresh Kuppili, who goes online by Naresh K Lee.
She called him out for making misogynistic comments on her. She further expressed disappointment at her co-star Sudigali Sudheer for not speaking up in her support.
Divya Bharathi Calls Out Naresh Kuppili For Online Bullying
Divyabharathi shared a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter) in which Naresh has written a tweet referring to her as ‘chilaka’ (which means bird in Telugu, it is also used as a misogynistic term to describe a woman) and as someone who deserves to be a ‘second lead actress’. Sharing the screenshot, she wrote, “Calling women “Chilaka” or any other term isn’t a harmless joke, it’s a reflection of deep-rooted misogyny. And this wasn’t a one-off incident; this director followed the same pattern on set too, repeatedly disrespecting women and honestly, betraying the very art he claims to create.”
She also called out the film’s lead actor Sudheer for staying silent and allowing this treatment, writing, “What disappointed me most was seeing the hero stay silent, allowing this culture to survive one more day. I choose better…I choose workspaces where women aren’t targets for mockery, where every voice matters, and where respect is non-negotiable. This is not just a choice; it’s my standard as an artist and as a woman!”
She concluded her note by appealing for workplace dignity in the hashtags. When some people in the comments claimed that Divyabharathi ‘always had issues’ with others, she responded, “I’ve worked repeatedly with the same team, actors and crews in Tamil cinema with zero conflicts. Only this one director crossed lines and made disrespectful comments. He chose to make it public, and I have every right to respond.” The actor also called out those defending the director’s behaviour.
What Is Divya Bharathi, Naresh Kuppili Controversy About?
The film initially had Naresh Kuppili as its director and a part of the shooting had already been completed. However, due to internal differences within the team, Naresh Kuppili was asked to exit from the project, after which the producer took over the direction. Following this development, problems are said to have surfaced between Divya Bharathi and Naresh Kuppili. In recent days, Naresh has been posting indirect comments on social media, which which indirectly aimed at Divya.