Tamil actor Radha Ravi is facing severe backlash after an old video resurfaced online, revealing a derogatory remark he made about Bollywood actor Aishwarya Rai. The controversial statement has triggered outrage among netizens and celebrities alike, with many condemning Ravi for his insensitive and misogynistic comments.
The video, shared by singer Chinmayi Sripaada on Twitter, captures Ravi speaking at a public event where he expresses regret for not learning Hindi. In the video, he says, “I have once said that if I had known Hindi, I would have had the opportunity to rape Aishwarya Rai. What I meant was I would have acted in Bollywood. Why the hell should I then act with these saniyans (sinners in Tamil).”
Sripaada, a vocal advocate against sexual harassment in the film industry, took to Twitter to express her dismay, drawing parallels between Ravi’s comment and a previous controversial statement made by actor Mansoor Ali Khan. Khan had faced backlash for expressing a desire to act in a ‘rape scene’ with Trisha, another popular actress, resulting in legal consequences.
“Radha Ravi said the exact same thing as Mansoor Ali Khan. I really, really want to know why nobody deemed it necessary to take any action on this man,” Sripaada tweeted.
This isn’t the first time Ravi has made controversial remarks about women in the film industry. In 2019, he mocked actress Nayanthara for portraying a goddess in a film, questioning her character. He also insulted Sripaada for accusing veteran lyricist Vairamuthu of sexual harassment.
Ravi’s latest video has sparked widespread criticism, prompting calls for action against him for his disrespectful and offensive comments. Many have also raised concerns about the apparent silence of the film fraternity and the media on this issue.
Aishwarya Rai, a highly acclaimed actor in India and abroad, known for her work in Tamil films such as Jeans, Kandukondain Kandukondain, Raavanan, and Enthiran, has not responded to Ravi’s remark. She is married to actor Abhishek Bachchan, and the couple has a daughter named Aaradhya.
