Divya Bharathi Slams Director Naressh’s Misogynistic Remarks

Divya Bharathi: A controversy has erupted around the upcoming Telugu film GOAT, starring Sudigaali Sudheer and Divya Bharathi, after filmmaker Naressh K Lee made offensive remarks on social media. On his official X account (@NaresshLee), he criticized the film and used disrespectful language toward the actress. His comment, filled with slang and belittling terms, targeted the film’s editing and even referred to the second lead actress as “chilaka,” a term Divya Bharathi found deeply insulting.

Responding to this, Divya Bharathi posted a strong and clear message condemning the director’s words. She wrote that calling women “Chilaka” or using similar terms is not a harmless joke but a sign of deep-rooted misogyny. She added that this was not an isolated incident; according to her, the director had shown the same disrespect toward women on set as well.

Take a look at the post:

https://twitter.com/divyabarti2801/status/1991022874954744207?s=20

https://twitter.com/NaresshLee/status/1990740006365704697?s=20

Divya expressed disappointment that even the hero remained silent, allowing such behavior to continue. She said she chooses to work only in places where women are respected, where everyone’s voice matters, and where dignity is non-negotiable. She emphasized that this is not just her preference but her standard as both an artist and a woman.

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It is reported that he was removed from the film as the director, which led to him making negative remarks about the project and commenting on the lead actress. Sources say he was originally attached to direct the movie, but due to internal conflicts, the team decided to replace him. The controversy has now put additional focus on the film, with many waiting to see how the team responds next.

About GOAT Movie
GOAT is an upcoming Telugu romantic comedy directed by Naresh Kuppili. The film stars Sudigaali Sudheer and Divya Bharathi in the lead roles. Although the official release date has not been announced yet, film critics expect the movie to hit theatres around summer 2026.