📌 Key Points
- Actor Sangeeth blasts “lady director” tag!
- Talent has no gender, Sangeeth declares!
- Media grilled: Why genderize directors? Sangeeth asks!
- Sangeeth: “Eyes closed” faith in Niharika & Manasa!
Telugu actor Sangeeth Shobhan recently made headlines with a sharp retort to media at the ‘Raakasa’ teaser launch. When probed about collaborating with a “lady director,” he powerfully asserted that talent knows no gender, specifically commending Manasa Sharma’s exceptional work. This bold stance has resonated widely, sparking conversations about inherent biases in our film industry.
Actor Blasts Gender Bias
Actor Sangeeth Shobhan recently delivered a strong counter to media during the ‘Raakasa’ movie teaser launch event, where he was questioned about working with a ‘lady director.’ He firmly emphasized that talent should be recognized without gender bias, specifically highlighting director Manasa Sharma‘s outstanding work.
This incident unfolded during the promotional event for ‘Raakasa,’ a new film starring Sangeeth Shobhan and Nayan Sarika as the lead pair. Produced by Niharika Konidela under her Pink Elephant Pictures banner in collaboration with Umesh Kumar Bansal and presented by Zee Studios, the movie is directed by Manasa Sharma and is scheduled for release on April 3rd. Niharika Konidela herself has garnered significant national recognition as a producer, notably with her award-winning 2024 film ‘Committee Kurrollu,’ showcasing her commitment to bringing unique stories to audiences.
Talent Takes Center Stage
The interaction began when a media person asked Sangeeth, “You’ve done a film with a lady director, right? What kind of experience did you have?” Sangeeth Shobhan calmly responded, stating, “I worked with Director Manasa Sharma. Not with ‘Lady Director’ Manasa Sharma. She narrated the story to me as a director. I believe the media can help without making distinctions like male or female. When you ask such questions, it makes me feel uncomfortable. I think it’s better not to ask such questions at all. Because, you are a journalist – not a male journalist or a female journalist – you are just a journalist. And she is just a director. Why assign a gender to a director? She narrated the story to me, and I felt it was amazing. When it came to who would produce it, Niharika was mentioned. That made it even more amazing. With both of them leading from the front, why should I be afraid? Tell me. I have faith in the director. The producer has a strong grasp of film production. I can do it with my eyes closed. I have already done a web series with Niharika. Niharika was the first to hold a pre-release function for a web series. No one else has done that until now. That’s how confidently I can move forward. When those two are there, why should I have any doubts? I have full confidence in both of them. I did it with my eyes closed.”
The journalists present applauded Sangeeth’s powerful and thoughtful response, which has since become a significant topic of discussion in the media. Netizens, commenting on the viral video, have echoed his sentiment, questioning the necessity of such gendered inquiries and asserting that if there are no pertinent questions, silence would be preferable. Sangeeth’s ‘class’ response unequivocally champions the idea that talent should be celebrated regardless of gender.
Looking Ahead
Sangeeth Shobhan’s ‘class’ response, resonating deeply, serves as a vital reminder. For our South Indian cinema, talent, unburdened by gender, must be the ultimate metric. May this incident spark a lasting shift, ensuring future discussions focus solely on merit, truly celebrating skill and contribution above all else.
