After Hyderabad Mobbing, Nidhhi Agerwal Responds To Sivaji’s Remarks: “Blaming The Victim Is Manipulation”
Last week, actress Nidhhi Agerwal was mobbed and manhandled while leaving the launch event of the song The Raja Saab in Hyderabad, an incident that left social media users disturbed as videos showed her visibly shaken, clutching her dupatta tightly. The outrage around the viral clips was followed by strong criticism of actor Sivaji’s comments on women’s clothing at the Dhandoraa pre-release event, which many called regressive.
Earlier today, Sivaji confirmed that his remarks were influenced by what happened to Nidhhi Agerwal. Referring to the Hyderabad incident, he said, “She was wearing an off-shoulder dress; she is a very nice girl, but a huge crowd fell on her.”
Nidhhi Agerwal has now responded to the ongoing controversy. Breaking her silence, she shared a picture on her Instagram story with the caption: “Blaming the victim is manipulation.”
What happened at The Raja Saab event
Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab has been in the news since it was announced, and the makers launched the song Sahana Sahana at an event in Hyderabad last Wednesday. The celebrations, however, descended into chaos when Nidhhi Agerwal, who stars opposite Prabhas in the film, was mobbed by fans while exiting the venue at Lulu Mall.
Videos widely shared online show the actress surrounded by an unruly crowd as people broke through security in a rush to click selfies, making it difficult for her to reach her car. In one of the viral clips, Nidhhi appears visibly distressed, holding on to her dupatta as security personnel try to push back the crowd and clear a safe path.
What Sivaji said
The controversy around Sivaji began when he addressed the audience at the Dhandoraa pre-release event, where he initially praised the female host for wearing a saree and then launched into unsolicited advice on how women, especially heroines, should dress.
Speaking in Telugu, Sivaji said, “I request all heroines not to wear revealing outfits. Please wear sarees or dresses that cover the body fully. Beauty lies in complete attire or a saree, not in displaying physical assets.”
He went on to add, “A woman is like nature. When nature is beautiful, we respect it. A woman is like my mother, whom I hold close to my heart.” He cited examples of yesteryear actresses and Rashmika Mandanna, arguing that they are respected not only for their work but also for what he described as their “modest” dressing.
Sivaji concluded with a warning that “freedom is precious—don’t lose it,” saying that people would respect women based on their conduct and that glamour “should have limits” and must not cross “a certain line”. His comments triggered immediate backlash online, with many users calling them patriarchal and inappropriate for a public stage.
Sivaji’s apology and link to the Nidhhi Agerwal incident
Following the uproar, Sivaji shared a video message on X, expressing regret for his statements at the Dhandoraa event held on Monday. “I should not have used unparliamentary words. I was not speaking about all women. I only said maybe actresses wouldn’t be made to feel uncomfortable if they dressed carefully. The intention wasn’t to demean anyone, but because I used such words, I sincerely apologise,” he said.
He also wrote, “I sincerely apologise for my words during the Dhandoraa pre-release event last night,” acknowledging that his remarks had hurt people.
Soon after, in a conversation with ANI, Sivaji said his intention at the event was to urge women to dress “appropriately” in public. He admitted to using two unparliamentary words in his speech and reiterated his apology. Explaining the context, he referred to the Lulu Mall incident in Hyderabad a week earlier, where Nidhhi Agerwal was left visibly shaken after being surrounded and mobbed during promotions for The Raja Saab.
“My influence was the incident at Lulu Mall a week ago. Nidhhi Agerwal went to a function. There was a big mob, and they started pulling. She was wearing an off-shoulder dress; she is a very nice girl, but a huge crowd fell on her. I saw her face—she was so embarrassed. That is why I felt I had to address this,” Sivaji said.
In his note, he further added, “My apologies for whatever I spoke about regarding the safety of heroines yesterday at the Dhandoraa pre-release event. My intention was good, but those two words were not correct. I totally regret it. I always believe that a woman is Maha Shakti. Without Amma, there is no world. I offer my heartfelt apology for hurting your feelings. My intention was good, but those two words were wrong.”
Unmoved by the apology, the Telangana State Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and summoned Sivaji for an enquiry on December 27, 2025.