Actress Gauri Kishan has spoken out after a widely discussed incident at the Chennai press meet for her recently released film ‘Others’, where a journalist’s question about her weight sparked outrage online. The conversation, which took place ahead of the film’s release on November 7, reignited the conversation about sexism and body shaming faced by women in the entertainment industry.

During the event, a journalist had asked Gauri’s co-star Aditya Madhavan about her weight, citing a scene from the film where he lifts her. Caught carefully in the beginning, Later Gauri expressed her problemQuestions are being raised on the relevance of the investigation. When the journalist defended her question in a later conversation, she replied firmly, “What difference does my weight make to you? How is it relevant to this film? Every woman has a different body type. I will let my talent speak for me. I have only done character-based films so far. I don’t need your validation.”

Some journalists tried to dismiss the question as “light-hearted”, but Gauri refused to accept that framing. She said, “I don’t find it funny. Stop normalizing body shaming. This was a question about me; I have a right to an opinion.” He said that he was not asked a single question about his character or preparation for the role. “But everyone wants to know about my weight,” she explained.

As the confrontation escalated, Gauri told the reporter, “You are calling a female actor objectionable. This is not journalism; you are being disrespectful to your profession.” Her patience and perseverance were widely praised after the video went viral, drawing support from colleagues and social media alike.

Later, addressing the incident in an official statement, Gauri shared, “As a public figure, I understand that scrutiny is part of my profession. However, comments or questions – direct or indirect – that target a person’s body or appearance are inappropriate in any context. I wish I had been asked the question about the film – the work I was there for. I can’t help but wonder if they would ask a male actor in the same aggressive tone. I Being able to stand my ground in a difficult situation was important not only for me, but for anyone who has faced this, it is not new but still prevalent.Jokingly normalizing body shaming Perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards. I hope this will be a reminder to those who have felt that we are allowed to speak. “We are allowed to express our concerns, question what is wrong, and work toward stopping this cycle.”

Emphasizing the importance of empathy, she said, “I also want to make it clear – this is not an invitation to target or harass the individual involved. Let’s use this moment to move forward with more empathy, sensitivity and respect on all sides.”

The ’96’ and ‘Master’ actor’s response has since been praised as a powerful stance against everyday sexism, highlighting the need for respectful dialogue within the entertainment industry.