On Thursday, the Telugu Film Journalists Association condemned journalist, producer and distributor Suresh Kondeti for his inappropriate question to actor Siddhu Jonnalagadda regarding co-star Neha Shetty, during the trailer launch of their Telugu film DJ Tillu.
“We express our sincere regret over the question posed by a journalist at the trailer launch of DJ Tillu yesterday. While extending solidarity with Neha Shetty, we strongly condemn the journalist for the inappropriate question,” the association wrote.
Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, the producers of DJ Tillu, conducted a trailer launch event in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Jonnalagadda and Shetty play the leads in the upcoming film.
Kondeti, who runs the weekly magazine Santosham, posed a question in Telugu to Jonnalagadda, during a media interaction with the cast. It was in reference to a dialogue from the trailer, where Jonnalagadda asks Shetty, “How many moles do you have?” to which the latter replies, 16. The journalist asked, “You have found out that she has 16 moles on her body in the film. Have you tried to find out how many moles she has in reality?”
Jonnalagadda maintained his composure when faced with this inappropriate question and simply said, “I think I will avoid the question, sir.”
The video clip of the incident began to go viral on social media soon after.
Shetty then took to Twitter and wrote, “This question was very unfortunate at the trailer launch today.” She went on to add that it only exemplified the respect the journalist has for himself and for the women around him at his work place and at home. Naga Vamsi, the film’s producer, replied to her tweet, saying, “Sorry Neha, that was really unfortunate…”
Subsequently, the journalist took Twitter and tried to justify what he had done. He said he had asked a “romantic question” given that it was a romantic film. He further added that his intention was “very clean” and no “double meaning” was implied in his question.
Kondeti also extended his best wishes to the team and requested that they not take him wrong.
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In another tweet, he later apologised to Shetty, saying, “It wasn’t meant to insult/embarrass you at all. I would like to apologise for the trouble caused.”
This is not the first time journalists have put forth inappropriate questions to actors. Recently, during the promotions of Shyam Singha Roy, two of the lead actors of the film, Nani, and Krithi Shetty were quizzed about a kiss that they shared onscreen. Another lead actor of the film, Sai Pallavi had to intervene and explain that the question was making the duo uncomfortable.