Kannada actresses unite against obscene video circulation
Bengaluru: A strong wave of protest has erupted within the Kannada film industry after actress Sapthami Gowda publicly condemned the act of paparazzi allegedly capturing and circulating obscene videos of actresses on social media platforms.
Her statement has triggered widespread solidarity across Sandalwood, with several leading actors voicing their support and demanding accountability.
Sapthami Gowda had earlier taken to social media to express her outrage over certain individuals filming women artistes in an inappropriate manner during public events.
She alleged that instead of focusing on their professional appearances, some videographers deliberately zoom in on body parts and circulate such clips online for sensationalism. Calling the practice “disrespectful and unacceptable,” she urged media personnel to uphold professional ethics.
Her post quickly gained traction, with actresses including Brinda Acharya, Ashika Ranganath, Rithanya Vijay, Ramya, Rakshita Prem, Sanjana Anand, Chaithra J Achar, Vasuki Vaibhav, Anupama Gowda and Yuva Rajkumar sharing her message on their Instagram stories.
The collective response signals a rare moment of unity in the industry on an issue concerning dignity and safety. In the shared statement, the artistes said, “As women in the film industry, we are standing together to address a serious and recurring issue.
Videos and photographs of female artistes attending public events are being shot in an obscene manner, with unnecessary focus and zooming on our bodies rather than our work. Such behaviour, even if carried out by a few individuals, is humiliating and cannot be accepted.”
The statement further clarified that actresses attend events to promote their films and creative work, not to be subjected to objectification. “We are here for our art and our cinema. Deliberately zooming and capturing us in an indecent way harms our dignity. We will not normalise or tolerate this,” it read.
The artistes also called upon media professionals to adhere to basic standards of decency and journalistic ethics while covering public events. They stressed the need to draw clear boundaries and ensure respectful representation of women in the entertainment industry.
The issue has sparked wider conversations online about privacy, consent and the responsibilities of digital platforms in curbing the circulation of objectionable content. Industry insiders say the unified stand by leading actors may push for stricter norms at film events and greater scrutiny of freelance videographers.
With prominent faces speaking out, the message from Sandalwood is clear — respect for women artistes is non-negotiable, and the fight against digital harassment will continue.
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