The Chennai Press club Friday condemned the conduct of a YouTuber who asked a body-shaming question to Gouri Kishan, the Malayalam and Tamil actor, who was promoting her latest film, Others.
The remarks were made at a press interaction Thursday where Kishan was present with the cast of her latest Tamil film about a cop investigating a conspiracy involving IVF.
“Raising questions aimed at mocking or humiliating a woman artist over her physical appearance, especially in a professional forum meant to discuss a film, is highly unethical, indecent and condemnable,” read the statement.
It also urged journalists to call out their colleagues who conduct themselves in sexist and disrespectful behaviour. Other journalists tried to defend the question, saying it was just a joke and should be taken in her stride.
But it is not a rare instance when it comes to entertainment reporting in Tamil Nadu.
“It is so normalised that none bats an eyelid before asking such questions. Most female actors at some point of their career would have been asked about their weight, marital status or if they want to continue acting after marriage,” said former journalist Ashameera Aiyappan, who has worked with Firstpost and The New Indian Express.
She also pointed out how there is much more acceptance when a male actor does not conform to traditional beauty standards.
Even at the presser, there was talk of Gouri and her co-star Aditya Madhavan not ‘looking good’ together as a romantic pair. Madhavan incidentally did not react when his co-star was being questioned by the journalist. Few hours later, he responded to Tamil singer Chinmayi Sripaada’s tweet applauding Kishan.
“Hi to all, My Silence didn’t mean i approve body shaming of anyone. I froze because it caught me off guard as it is my debut. I wish I’d stepped in sooner. She didn’t deserve that. No one does. Everyone deserves respect, regardless of who we are. I apologise once again,” wrote Madhavan.
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Power dynamics
A glimpse of the kind of questions directed at female actors in the Tamil film industry was earlier shared by Jyotika in an interview. The actor, who is married to Tamil star Suriya, mentioned questions and comments made about her marital life.
“It seems like an everyday thing. I’m married to a superstar. So, I face it every now and then, till date. I see it happening even during interviews,” she said.
In May 2025, a journalist asked actor and former journalist Aishwarya Ragupathi if she was wearing a sleeveless blouse to beat the heat at a promotional event. While she did not say anything then, the actor later mentioned that it was unwarranted.
Even back then, other journalists had tried defending the question.
It just speaks of a larger pattern that goes unchecked, even justified under the guise of ‘it’s just a joke’, which happened after Kishan’s initial reaction too.
“I have been part of pressers like these when such questions are asked, and it is not always possible to call out, because you are not in a position of power. Even female actors do not have the space to react because they do not want to be seen as troublemakers,” said Aiyappan.
But Kishan’s stance, which has since gone viral—with snippets of her response shared all over social media—is a rare occurrence that has received overwhelming support.
“I am glad that Gouri spoke her mind, with clarity and professionalism. She had the grace the journalist did not have,” said Aiyappan.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)