Actress Payal Rajput has strongly condemned actor Sivaji for his recent comments regarding women's clothing, labeling them as "regressive and inappropriate". The controversy arose after Sivaji made remarks about women's attire during the pre-release event for his film Dhandoraa.

Rajput expressed her discomfort and anger in a video shared on social media on Wednesday. "Since yesterday, I have been feeling really uncomfortable hearing the remarks made by Shivaji Garu at the event," she stated. "His harsh words about women and comments on how they should dress were really concerning". Questioning his stance, she added, "I don't know how he has so much audacity to tell us what we should wear".

Sivaji's comments urged actresses to dress "modestly," suggesting they should wear sarees or fully covered dresses, arguing that "beauty lies in complete attire and not in displaying physical assets". Rajput also alluded to the use of derogatory language towards women and their bodies, which further fueled her reaction.

The remarks triggered widespread backlash from social media users and members of the film industry. Following the criticism, Sivaji issued a public apology, stating, "I sincerely apologise for my words during the Dhandoraa pre-release event. My intention was good, but my choice of words was wrong". The 54-year-old actor's apology came after he initially defended his comments, citing mobbing incidents involving actresses like Nidhhi Agerwal as the reason behind his advice. He implied that modest dressing could prevent harassment, a notion that has been widely criticized as victim-blaming.

Nidhhi Agerwal, who was mobbed at a promotional event at Lulu Mall in Hyderabad on December 17, also responded to Sivaji's comments. Without directly naming Sivaji, she posted on Instagram, "Blaming the victim is a form of manipulation". Videos of the mobbing incident showed Agerwal struggling to move through a crowded space as people attempted to get close to her.

Sivaji's attempt to clarify his stance only intensified the controversy. Two days after his initial remarks, he addressed the media, maintaining that he was only apologizing for his language but not the core message. When questioned about advising women on their attire instead of addressing men's behavior, Sivaji reportedly said, "Who will listen?".

The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the responsibility of public figures and the pervasive issue of victim-blaming. Several other figures from the film industry have also voiced their disapproval of Sivaji's comments.