Is he asking questions fit for his age?: Kasthuri backs Gouri Kishan, calls out toxic media culture

Actor-turned-politician Kasthuri has staunchly defended Gouri Kishan after the younger actor was recently questioned about her weight, launching a blistering attack on the journalist responsible and demanding public accountability for what she termed “obscene questions”.

During an interview on Thanthi TV, Kasthuri praised Gouri Kishan’s courage and called for a higher standard of journalistic integrity. She recalled the moment where Gouri was asked about her weight, saying that at such a young age Gouri achieved something that “nobody had questioned for a long time” by immediately addressing the issue.

Kasthuri noted that those around her, specifically the film’s director and hero, who are “much older than her” were attempting to “compromise, saying, ‘It’s okay, it’s okay, okay, okay’” because they were worried their film should not be affected. However, Gouri prioritised righteousness, asking if “’Dharma’ (morality/righteousness) should not be affected, even beyond the worry that ‘her career or the film might be affected’”. The speaker then asked, “Are you asking if that is feminism? That is not feminism,” before stating she was asking without knowing, having observed this situation for many years.

Kasthuri stressed that while Gouri Kishan has been widely praised, “nobody has publicly mentioned that YouTuber’s name”. She explained her reasoning by quoting the journalist’s arrogant self-defence. 

“Because he had spoken very arrogantly, saying, ‘I have been in the journalistic world for 32 years. There is nothing I don’t know. I know what readers want to read. Who are you to come and criticise that?’”

What’s the concern over journalistic conduct?

The actress went on to criticise the interviewer’s methodology, stressing that a media professional should not ponder what needs to be revealed as merely an issue concerning their “media friend”.

She emphasised, “Truth is truth. Integrity is integrity”. She questioned YouTuber Karthik’s conduct given his seniority.

“RS Karthik, he is very old. Is he asking questions appropriate for his age?”

“First of all, he is asking obscene questions,” she stated.

Drawing on her experience as a Tamil woman who grew up reading Tamil magazines and as a loyal reader of cinema magazines, the actress asserted that for many years, “definitely, no reader has ever asked questions related to physical appearance like someone’s weight or their body measurements”.

She also stated that if anyone responded to these, they would be criticised by asking their ability to discuss serious global issues.

“You are just an actress, right? Can we ask you about Trump and Modi?”

The actress responded forcefully to this rhetorical question, issuing a direct public challenge.

“I am asking, I challenge Karthik. I am ready to debate about Trump and Modi. Will he come and talk with me?”

She further challenged his qualifications, asking if he possesses fundamental knowledge: “Do you know Trump’s full name? Do you know Modi’s date of birth? Do you know the history?”.

She concluded by condemning those who “make a living by writing gossip like ‘What is the actor’s jewellery?’ and ‘What is the actress wearing?’ do you think actresses are insignificant?”

She challenged them on their moral standards.

“Do you go to your house and ask these types of questions?” and suggested that readers would be ready to consume more meaningful content too.