Gouri Kishan shuts down body-shaming question; actor Aditya Madhavan explains silence, says ' I froze because it caught me off guard'

Malayalam actress Gouri Kishan who has played several roles in the Mollywood films such as 'Margamkali', 'Anugraheethan Antony', and the recently released 'Sahasam', has become the talk of the internet after a video from the press meet of her Tamil film 'Others' went viral.

The controversy began when a journalist asked the film’s hero how much Gouri weighed. This question left the actress visibly upset. Gouri immediately confronted the journalist, saying, “Why are you asking such things instead of questions about the film?” Her firm response drew mixed reactions from the press members present, with several reportedly turning against her during the event.The journalist later defended his question, saying it was something “everyone usually asks.”

His query stemmed from a song sequence in the movie where the hero lifts Gouri, and he had asked if she “felt heavy” during the scene. The actress, however, strongly condemned the question, calling it irrelevant and disrespectful. “What you’re doing right now is not journalism,” Gouri stated, earning applause online for her composure and clarity.

Social media hails Gouri’s bold stance

Singer Chinmayi Sripaada took to X (formerly Twitter) to applaud her, writing, “Gowri did an amazing job.

The moment you call out a disrespectful and unnecessary question—a whole lot of shouting down happens. So proud that someone so young stood her ground and pushed back. No male actor gets asked what his weight is.”

'Others' lead actor Aditya Madhavan also issued a public apology after criticism over his silence during the incident. “My silence didn’t mean I approve body shaming of anyone. I froze because it caught me off guard as it is my debut… She didn’t deserve that. No one does. Everyone deserves respect,” he wrote.

Fans demand accountability

Netizens expressed outrage that no one at the event supported Gouri in the moment. One user wrote, “My heart is racing watching this. Not a single person came to support her… Kudos to Gowri for not giving in and standing up for herself.”