I will put an end to casting couch in film industries: Actress Sri Reddy

Earlier this year, Telugu actress Sri Reddy protested against the casting couch in Tollywood and came up with explosive allegations against top actors and directors from the industry. 

On Thursday, the actress took to Facebook to reveal that director AR Murugadoss promised her a role in one of his films and exploited her. On Friday, she accused actors Raghava Lawrence and Srikanth of sexually exploiting her, promising a role. 

Reacting to her allegations, Raghava Lawrence told DT Next, “The accusations are baseless and I don’t want to comment on this. It’s below my dignity if I react. However, to make things clear, it has been over five years since I choreographed for a film in Telugu. I have been busy with the Kanchana franchise, Shivalinga and Motta Shiva Ketta Shiva. Everybody in the south knows that Sri Reddy is a notorious person. She does this for publicity and has even targeted stars like Pawan Kalyan and Nani. It is left to people to decide.”

But the actress strongly reacts to Lawrence’s comments and tells us, “If that is the case, I wouldn’t have come up with names like Raghava Lawrence and Srikanth. My fight against the casting couch has already garnered the attention of the masses. It is true that I met Lawrence and Murugadoss in Chennai through actor Bellamkonda Srinivas, who acted as a middleman. I had met Srikanth during the CCL party in Hyderabad and he exploited me by promising roles in films. If I needed publicity, I would have revealed this when Srikanth was in the prime of his career. He hardly has movies in his hands now.”

Reacting to this, actor Srikanth says, “I am aware of all misconstrued allegations against me on the digital media. If at all I owe an explanation to someone, it should be my family and they know me well. Who would come up with such an allegation after five years? Also, the person could have sourced my picture anywhere on the internet and misused it. I don’t refer anyone or let anyone refer artistes even if it is for my own production house. I think I should leave this issue here and focus on positive things.”

Sri Reddy adds that she is single-handedly fighting against the casting couch in the industry.

“These filmmakers do not look beyond skin show and need actresses from the north. Girls like me from the south, who audition for roles end up being their sex slaves,” she says. She admits her mistakes and continues, “What I did was wrong. And I don’t want other girls to undergo what I went through. These filmmakers used me and shattered my dream of becoming an actress. My personal life has gone for a toss as well. I want these criminals to be punished and will let the truth out. I have a few more names and will reveal them soon,” she says.