Virupaksha star Samyuktha slams sexist "golden leg" label in Telugu film industry

Samyuktha is currently enjoying a streak of successful movies, leading some to dub her the "golden leg" in the Telugu film industry. However, this label is not without its problematic connotations. For far too long, female actors have been blamed for a movie's commercial failure, with their supposed lack of luck cited as the main reason, instead of poor filmmaking or bad storytelling. On the other hand, if a movie is a success, the credit typically goes to the male lead.

During a media interaction for her latest movie, Virupaksha, Samyuktha was asked about this "golden leg" label, and she was quick to dismiss the notion. She highlighted the lack of any logical basis for such claims and criticised the concept as "very bad."

Also Read: Virupaksha Review: The Sai Dharam Tej, Samyukhta Menon starrer is a well made spooky thriller 

"It's a very bad concept to call a heroine a 'golden leg' or an 'iron leg.' Every person involved in making a movie has a responsibility for its success or failure. It feels like they are putting us (female actors) down by saying we are successful because we are lucky. We are putting a lot of hard work and effort behind choosing the right scripts and doing the right performance. That's why we get the success we get. It's an age-old concept, let's keep it aside. Don't hire a female actor because she is lucky or 'golden leg' or anything. The casting should be based on how well that actor can carry that character," she said. 

Her comments have sparked an important conversation about gender bias and representation in the film industry.

Meanwhile, Samyuktha's latest movie Virupaksha was released in cinemas on Friday. The movie has garnered very positive reviews from critics. Starring Sai Dharam Tej in the lead, the movie is written and directed by Karthik Varma Dandu.