Actress Shalini Pandey, renowned for her breakout role in the Telugu blockbuster Arjun Reddy, recently opened up about a disturbing incident from early in her career that sheds light on the challenges faced by women in the film industry.
Shalini recounted the incident, saying that the director of one of her southern films barged into her van while she was changing her dress. She got angry that he entered her private space without seeking her permission. "I was all of 22. I just had a hit (Arjun Reddy). I was asked not to speak out against the director," Shalini said.
In Hollywood, similar issues have prompted action in recent years, particularly following the #MeToo movement. One notable measure implemented by the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) includes guidelines established in 2018 to prevent sexual harassment on sets. These guidelines prohibit auditions and professional meetings in “high-risk locations” such as hotels or private homes, aiming to create safer working environments for actors. SAG-AFTRA has since expanded these efforts, encouraging productions to adopt intimacy coordinators and clear protocols to ensure consent and comfort during sensitive scenes. There is a demand from actresses like Samantha Ruth Prabhu to implement similar measures in Tollywood. The MAA has worked in the background towards the same.
