Overview
- At the Hyderabad pre-release event, Sivaji urged actresses to avoid revealing outfits and used derogatory terms while advocating sarees or fully covering attire.
- He later posted an apology on X for using "unparliamentary words," saying he meant to caution about safety and did not intend to insult anyone.
- Industry figures including Chinmayi Sripaada, Manoj Manchu and Anasuya Bharadwaj condemned his stance and language, calling it regressive and harmful.
- Social media users circulated past Bigg Boss Telugu clips showing Sivaji making offensive and at times violent remarks about women, questioning his sincerity.
- New criticism followed his follow-up comments linking Nidhhi Agerwal’s Lulu Mall mobbing to clothing choices and citing saree-wearing actresses, which critics labeled victim-blaming as Dhandoraa headed to its December 25 release.