The other day, after being subject to body shaming and a humiliating comment at the Others press meet, actor Gouri Kishan not only called out the reporter who did it to her but also questioned the silence from the director and the lead actor of her film. Now, the film's lead actor Adithya Madhavan has responded to the criticism against him. Speaking to NDTV, Adithya said that he did not wish to interrupt the heated back-and-forth between Gouri and the reporter because it was a "loud space". The actor argued that their silence ensured that Gouri's point has been heard loud and clear. "We really support her. And we are always going to stand with her. We do not condone body shaming of any kind. I personally am a big advocate against it," the actor explained.
Adithya also said that he has experienced body-shaming and bullying in the past. He addressed him not speaking up for Gouri the first time the reporter made the body-shaming comment in a question addressed to him. "It was my first press meet. This is my debut film, and I was nervous," Adithya revealed. He added that Gouri could have grabbed the microphone from him at that moment itself and spoken about it. "However, she said it is beneath her and is going to not talk about it. I think I would handle it in a different way. I would handle it in a comical way without agitating anyone," the actor said, referring to the first time the journalist made the inappropriate comment. He also said that it pained him a lot when the reporter repeated his behaviour.
The actor commended Gouri for dealing with the situation with the level of control she has shown as well. Addressing whether his silence in the matter at that instance means complicity, he argued that speaking about it now does not mean that it is too late to do so. "I wish I stepped in sooner and I apologise for not doing so. But I wanted to take a stance at some point and am doing it right now," the actor concluded.
