Singer and voice artist Chinmayi Sripaada has spoken out strongly after veteran actor Chiranjeevi said that there is no casting couch culture in the entertainment industry. What followed was not a mild disagreement, but a detailed, painful account of what many women quietly face behind the glitter and lights of cinema.
And Chinmayi didn’t mince her words.
What did Chiranjeevi say that sparked the debate?
During the success meet of his film ‘Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu’ in Hyderabad, Chiranjeevi addressed questions about the casting couch and the MeToo movement.
According to reports, the actor said there is no casting couch “as such” and that it depends on the individual. He also added a line that quickly went viral: “The industry is like a mirror. It reflects who you are.”
For many, the comment sounded dismissive. For Chinmayi, it needed a response.
Casting couch is rampant, women are refused roles if they don’t offer ‘full commitment’ – a word that means completely different in the film industry.
If you come from an English educated background and believe ‘commitment’ means ‘professionalism’, showing up to work and being…
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) January 26, 2026
Chinmayi’s direct reply: “Casting couch is rampant”
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Chinmayi responded with a long, detailed note, saying clearly that the casting couch does exist and that it is rampant.
She shared screenshots and examples of women being verbally abused, sexually harassed, and denied work for refusing sexual favours.
One screenshot showed a woman who had come from the United States to work in India, only to be verbally assaulted. Chinmayi explained how women are often refused roles if they don’t show what men call “full commitment.”
But in the film industry, she said, that word means something very different.
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When “commitment” doesn’t mean professionalism
Chinmayi explained that many women misunderstand the word “commitment,” especially those from educated or international backgrounds.
“If you believe commitment means professionalism and dedication to your craft, you’ll be wrong,” she wrote.
According to her, powerful men in the industry believe they are entitled to women’s bodies. They expect sexual favours simply because they control opportunities.
And when women say no, the doors quietly close.
Shocking stories from inside studios
Chinmayi didn’t stop at general statements. She shared specific incidents that paint a disturbing picture.
In one case, she wrote about a female musician who was nearly sexually assaulted by a man inside a studio. The woman locked herself inside a sound booth to protect herself until a senior industry person helped her escape.
After that incident, the woman quit that professional space entirely.
Chinmayi also spoke about repeat offenders; men who misbehave, send explicit photos, demand sexual acts, and yet continue to get work and public support.
“The abuse and sexual harassment of girls is rampant,” she said plainly.
Chinmayi clarifies her comment on Chiranjeevi
Importantly, Chinmayi did not attack Chiranjeevi personally.
She clarified that actors from his generation had a very different working environment.
Calling him a legend, she said Chiranjeevi and his peers worked in a time when male and female co-actors were often friends or even family friends, with mutual respect.
“They worked with legends, and they are legends themselves,” she added.
MeToo movement: “Many couldn’t comprehend it”
Chinmayi also spoke about how the MeToo movement shocked older generations.
She criticised comments made by senior figures like Sowcar Janaki, who had earlier spoken against women naming their abusers. Chinmayi said such statements insult women who speak up and protect men instead.
According to her, the problem is not women talking. It’s people refusing to listen.
Chinmayi opens up about her own trauma
In one of the most emotional parts of her post, Chinmayi spoke about her own experience of molestation.
She said she was barely out of her teens, respected the accused as a mentor, and never imagined he could be unsafe. Her mother was present in the same premises, yet the abuse still happened.
“Having a parent around also changes nothing with men like this,” she wrote. She made it clear that she did not invite the abuse in any way.
Chinmayi ended her statement with a powerful conclusion. She said women today are educated, aware, and coming from all over the world to work in Indian cinema. And yet, the problem remains.
“Men believing they are owed sex in return for giving work are the problem. End.”