Pushpa 2 actress Anasuya Bharadwaj has issued a public apology to actress Raasi after a controversial skit from three years ago resurfaced on social media, reigniting conversations around body-shaming and derogatory humor in television comedy shows.The clip, which featured objectionable double-meaning remarks at Raasi’s expense, went viral recently and drew widespread criticism online.Taking to Apologizing unreservedly, she wrote, “Dear RAASI garu, my sincere apologies to you. In a show I did three years ago, in a skit on not being able to speak Telugu properly, I used your name to utter a double-meaning dialogue. I should have confronted the people who wrote and directed this that day, but I didn’t have the strength to do so at that time. That was a mistake. Please accept my apologies. I can’t go back and fix it now.”Her apology comes amid renewed scrutiny of past comedy content that relied heavily on humiliation and innuendo.
‘People change and evolve’
Reflecting on how the incident shaped her personal journey, Anasuya spoke about distancing herself from such content over the years. She wrote, “People change and evolve. You can see the change in me from the moment I started criticizing the double entendres on that show to leaving that show. They are running a hate campaign against me, who is speaking out strongly about the safety of all women today.”She added that the backlash she is currently facing is ironic, given her spoken stance against misogyny and unsafe narratives in entertainment.
‘I take it as my responsibility to apologize to you’
Expressing empathy for Raasi’s discomfort, Anasuya acknowledged the emotional impact of the resurfaced clip. She wrote, “I can imagine how embarrassing these stories are for you, which are being made to shame me. Whether or not the director, writer, and producers of that show apologize to you, I take it as my responsibility to accept my mistake and apologize to you.”She concluded her note on a personal and resolute note, stating, “I am more stronger and empowered than before to question the narratives built around women’s bodies. Hope you understand and lend your support. Wishing you well, ma’am.”
How the controversy resurfaced
The issue gained fresh momentum after actor Sivaji faced backlash for his remarks at the Dhandoraa pre-release event, which Anasuya strongly criticized. This prompted Raasi to revisit a painful past incident involving a comedy skit featuring comedian Hyper Aadi, in which Anasuya was also part of the segment.Raasi revealed that the double-meaning dialogue and Anasuya’s reaction during the skit had left her deeply embarrassed and disappointed. In a recent interview, Raasi said she had earlier declined an offer from a comedy show to perform a skit based on her character from Preyasi Raave, as she was uncomfortable with content rooted in mockery and humiliation.Condemning body-shaming and insensitive language, the actress admitted that she had even considered taking legal action at one point, but eventually chose not to, following advice from her family.
