In a sensational incident on Saturday morning, an aspiring actress Sri Reddy who has been talking about the existence of casting couch in the Telugu film industry resorted to a 'strip protest' at the office of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce at Filmnagar.
Sri Reddy alleged that she was sexually exploited by many producers and directors. She has also been denied membership of the Movie Artistes Association (MAA) despite having acted in three films
Sri Reddy said despite having applied for the membership card she had not been given that. The actress alleged that she had sent nude photos and videos to several people in the film industry who had demanded that so that she could be given a film role.
"They see the videos and give no roles. They have even asked for live nude videos from me. That is the extent to which they go to take advantage of
women who seek roles," she said.
Sri Reddy said no roles were given to Telugu girls in the film industry. She alleged that Telugu girls are sexually taken advantage of. "I myself have been sexually exploited," she said.
Sri Reddy came to the film chamber in a salwar kameez and started slipping down to her undergarments in front of video cameras and photographers. "This is the only way I can think of expressing my grief. If I have shown myself nude to several people in the film industry and despite that have got no roles, the only way I can protest is by going nude publicly," she said.
The actress said she would make the issue bigger if film producers did not encourage local talent. "They give roles to actresses imported from Mumbai or others places, whereas we local girls are only sexually exploited on the promise of being given roles," she said.