Telugu cinema veteran Chiranjeevi has sparked controversy with his recent comments about wanting a grandson to continue his family's legacy. Speaking at the Brahma Anandam pre-release event, the legendary actor shared his thoughts on being surrounded by granddaughters at home and expressed his desire for his son Ram Charan to have a son in the future.
During the event, Chiranjeevi joked about feeling like a "warden of a ladies' hostel" at home as he is surrounded by granddaughters. He said, "I keep wishing and telling Ram Charan, at least this time, have a boy so that our legacy continues. But his daughter is the apple of his eye... I'm scared that he might have another girl." Many have criticized his remarks, calling them sexist and regressive.
Dear Chiranjeevi garu,
I have respect for you as an actor. However, I would appreciate some clarification on your recent statement.
It came across as misogynistic and seemed to imply that a legacy can only be carried forward by a male child or men. Did you truly mean to suggest… pic.twitter.com/2ylwxsSXut
The backlash on social media has been swift, with users pointing out that daughters can also carry forward a family's legacy. Some have even questioned why Chiranjeevi's own daughters and granddaughters can't be the ones to continue his legacy.
CPI-M leader Brinda Karat also criticized the actor’s remarks, calling them “crass” and a reflection of deep-rooted son preference in Indian society.
“It is unfortunate when well-known personalities make such sexist comments. Son preference has already skewed India’s sex ratio, and such statements reinforce the pressures women face to bear male children,” Karat told ANI.
On the work front, Chiranjeevi is gearing up for his next film, Vishwambhara.
