Nidhhi Agerwal breaks silence after actor Sivaji suggests her dress ‘provoked’ Hyderabad mobbing: ‘Blaming the victim is…’

Nidhhi Agerwal speaks out after actor Shivaji links her outfit to Hyderabad mobbing. Read what she said.

In the glitzy and glamorous world of showbiz, celebrities are always under the radar. From their personal lives to their professional endeavours, they are always under scrutiny, and every move and public appearance dominates the headlines. One such incident happened recently when actor Nidhhi Agerwal found herself at the centre of a storm after being mobbed during a public event in Hyderabad. Soon, this event turned into a disastrous incident that led to a full-blown controversy, following which remarks were made by Telugu actor Shivaji. Later, his comments drew widespread backlash, and now, finally, Nidhhi has broken her silence and spoken about the situation publicly.

The Hyderabad Incident That Sparked Outrage

On December 17, what was supposed to be a celebratory moment turned into a disastrous incident when Nidhhi visited Hyderabad’s Lulu Mall for the launch of a song from her upcoming film, The Raja Saab. As she went for this launch, an uncontrollable crowd gathered around her, making it difficult for her to reach her safely. Soon, videos from the event started circulating, showing the actor overwhelmed by a large crowd of men as her security team struggled to escort her safely to her car. Nidhhi appeared visibly shaken in the footage, raising concerns about crowd control and women’s safety at public events.

Sivaji’s Remarks And The Fallout

Following the incident, Sivaji held a press conference where he reiterated his long-standing views on female actors dressing “modestly” at public events. Without taking Nidhhi’s name initially, he suggested that it might have been her outfit that would have contributed to the situation. In contrast, he remarked that Samantha Ruth Prabhu was “fortunate” to be wearing a saree when she faced a similar crowding incident at a store opening on December 21.

During the press meet, Sivaji defended his comments when questioned about why responsibility was being placed on actresses instead of calling out inappropriate behaviour by men. He responded by saying that men would not listen and would continue attempting to touch or take pictures with actors regardless. He also said that he was not blaming either Nidhhi or Samantha, rather saying that actresses should be more cautious while choosing their outfits.

Addressing Samantha’s experience, Sivaji claimed that wearing a saree gave her an “advantage,” adding that younger audiences lack boundaries and that such incidents have happened even in the past. He further said that revealing clothing could encourage inappropriate behaviour. He even questioned why women would “give men that opportunity,” despite acknowledging that women should be free to dress as they choose.

Nidhhi’s Response: ‘Blaming the victim is called manipulation.’

Breaking her silence after Sivaji’s remarks, Nidhhi shared a photo from the Lulu Mall incident on social media, accompanied by a pointed statement: “Blaming the victim is called manipulation.” While she did not mention Sivaji by name, fans were quick to join the dots.

Social Media Backlash Grows Louder

After Shivaji’s remarks, netizens were quick to react. Triggering a lot of people with his comment, he drew massive criticism online, with many pointing out that harassment occurs irrespective of clothing. Several celebrities and public figures also condemned his remarks, calling them regressive to women’s safety concerns.