A controversy erupted online after actress Gouri Kishan, known for her performances in Malayalam movies ‘Margamkali’, ‘Anugraheethan Antony’ and the recent ‘Sahasam’, was subjected to sexist and body-shaming remarks during a press meet for her Tamil film ‘Others’. The incident, which took place on November 6, has sparked outrage across social media, with many calling out the unprofessional behaviour of an youtuber identifying himself as a journalist – RS Karthik.

The viral confrontation

During the promotional event, Gouri was visibly upset when Karthik, who runs a YouTube channel named Vere Level Cinema, asked a question about her weight — directed not even at her, but at the film’s hero. He reportedly asked the actor how much Gouri weighed and went on to justify his remarks as “regular” journalistic questions.

“You are sexualising a female character. This is not journalism. What you are doing is a disgrace to your profession,” said Gouri, a journalism graduate, firmly addressing Karthik in front of a room filled mostly with men.

The exchange escalated when Gouri confronted him about a similar incident in the past. Karthik had earlier asked her co-star Aditya Madhavan if he had found her “too heavy” to lift in a scene. Calling out the repeated line of questioning, Gouri asked him directly, “Aren’t you the same person who asked me about my weight? What is your weight?”

Karthik, who claims to have 25 years of experience as a cinema reporter, aggressively defended himself during the confrontation. “What was wrong with my question? These are questions that are regularly asked,” he said, referring to Gouri disrespectfully as “that girl”.

He also complained to the director in front of Gouri: “When I ask her weight, she asks my weight. Am I an actor?” Karthik then belittled her, saying, “She doesn’t understand Tamil. My question is so interesting.”

Gouri, who was raised in Tamil Nadu despite being from Kerala, made her Tamil debut with ‘96’ (2018). She repeatedly asserted that questions about her physical appearance were irrelevant to her work.

Left alone to defend herself

As the confrontation continued, Karthik was joined by another man who questioned why Gouri had not objected earlier. Several male voices were raised against her while the director, Abin Hariharan, remained passive and failed to intervene.

Gouri stood her ground and said, “Firstly, what you asked is body-shaming. There is no woman here. I am being targeted just because I am a woman. Every woman has a different body type. Do you know what problems I have? Do you know if I have hormonal issues? If I am the heroine, do I have to be size zero? What are you going to do knowing my weight? It’s irrelevant to the film.”

Karthik, however, continued to mock her, saying, “Let’s see you say both your height and weight are well-matched?”

To which Gouri replied, “Casting is the director’s choice. Who are you to question that?”

Karthik doubled down, saying, “Just say you will reduce your weight. What you are doing is wrong.”

When another man tried to silence her by interjecting, “Okay, okay. Let’s talk about the movie,” Gouri responded sharply: “What is okay? He [Karthik] is shouting at me and keeps interrupting. I have a perspective too. With all due respect to the press here, I am not generalising. But why is body-shaming normalised? Why are women actors always asked this question? Will you ask a hero the same question?”

She added, “Were there any questions about the characters I’ve played? There were zero questions about the doctor character I play in ‘Others’. He [Karthik] only wants to know my weight. How is that correct? You indirectly asked the hero my weight. It is wrong and a stupid question. You are sexualising a female character. This is not journalism. What you are doing is a disgrace to your profession.”

Industry voices condemn Karthik

While the director and her co-star initially stayed silent, Gouri received strong support from the film and music fraternity after the video went viral.

Singer Chinmayi Sripada posted a clip of the incident, writing, “The moment you call out a disrespectful and an 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. No idea why they asked a female actor.”

Actor Aditya Madhavan later issued a public apology, saying, “My Silence didn’t mean I approve of body shaming of anyone. I froze because it caught me off guard, as it is my debut. I wish I’d stepped in sooner. She didn’t deserve that. No one does. Everyone deserves respect, regardless of who we are. I apologise once again.” 

Director Abin Hariharan, who had initially remained silent during the press meet, later expressed his support for Gouri Kishan on social media, writing, “Sometimes, when conflicts strike unexpectedly, words lose direction. It’s not speechlessness — it’s just the space we take to understand what truly deserves our voice.”

Veteran actor Khushbu Sundar was also vocal in her criticism: “Journalism has lost its ground. The so-called journos take journalism to the gutters. How much a woman weighs is none of their business. And asking the hero about it?? What a shame!”

She continued, “Are the same men ok if we women, actors, turn around and ask the same question about the women in their families? Respect is never one-way traffic. Learn to give respect if you expect to be respected.”

Filmmaker Pa Ranjith also condemned the incident, saying, “More power to you. I strongly condemn the reporter's actions. They are unacceptable and shameful. That female actors still have to face these indecent questions goes to show the distance Thamizh cinema has yet to go.”

Actor Kavin added his voice of support, saying, “Inside and out, you’re beautiful and inspiring, Gouri :) Always stay the same.”