A new storm has erupted around the 2021 Telugu blockbuster Shyam Singha Roy. Social media is buzzing with outrage after revelations that actress Krithi Shetty was only 17 during the film’s shoot, when she performed an intimate scene opposite actor Nani.
The controversy began after Krithi allegedly admitted she felt “uncomfortable” while filming the sequence. Critics argue that this amounts to a breach of child protection norms, since she was legally a minor at the time. Some netizens have called for invoking the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, demanding accountability from the director Rahul Sankrityan, the producers, and Nani himself.
The film, released in December 2021, was a reincarnation-themed romantic drama starring Nani in dual roles, alongside Sai Pallavi and Krithi Shetty. It was lauded for its direction, performances, and production values, and went on to become one of the top-grossing Telugu films of that year. Ironically, it also carried strong themes of women’s empowerment and the exploitation of underage girls — a contrast that critics now highlight as bitterly ironic.
The Debate
The controversy has sharply divided opinion. Supporters of Krithi argue that the responsibility lay entirely with the filmmakers. “Everyone knew she was a minor. Why was she even cast in such a scene?” asked one outraged user. Others criticized Nani, calling it “hypocrisy” since he has backed socially conscious films in the past, including ones addressing exploitation.
On the other hand, Nani’s defenders argue that Krithi and her parents willingly signed the project, accepted remuneration, and were aware of the script. “If she was uncomfortable, she could have walked away then. Why raise it years later?” is a common refrain. Some accuse her of playing the “victim card,” while others highlight inconsistencies in CBFC’s ratings — questioning why Shyam Singha Roy received a U/A certificate while other films with less intense content were given A ratings.
At its heart, this controversy is not about a single actor or film. It shines a light on systemic gaps in the Indian film industry.
Consent is a nuanced issue, especially when minors are involved. The legal reality is clear: consent given by a minor is not valid under POCSO. Even if Krithi and her parents agreed, the responsibility to protect her fell on the adults in positions of power — directors, producers, and co-stars.
The industry’s defense — that scripts are shared in advance and remuneration was accepted — oversimplifies the dynamics of a young actor navigating career ambitions and parental expectations. In such contexts, “choice” becomes complicated, and placing the blame on a 17-year-old or her parents is both unfair and legally questionable.
Equally concerning is the silence of regulatory bodies. How did the CBFC grant the film a U/A certificate, given the sensitive nature of the scene and Krithi’s age? This points to not just lapses in oversight but also double standards in how films are censored — with violence scrutinized heavily while intimate content involving minors escapes with leniency.
The Larger Question
The Krithi Shetty–Shyam Singha Roy debate is not an isolated incident but a reflection of deeper structural flaws in the industry, calling for urgent reform. There must be legal clarity, with strict laws that bar minors from being cast in romantic lead roles. On-set safeguards are equally essential, such as mandating the presence of child protection officers during shoots involving underage actors. Above all, the industry itself must take responsibility, ensuring that the well-being of young actors is placed above creative experimentation or commercial gain.
This is not about vilifying individuals but about recognizing the imbalance of power in cinema. Unless such reforms are implemented, similar controversies will continue to erupt — exposing the gap between the ideals films preach and the practices they follow.
The Shyam Singha Roy controversy is a reminder that cinema does not exist in a vacuum. When films deal with themes of consent and empowerment on-screen, they must also embody those values off-screen. Krithi Shetty’s age at the time of filming may now be a matter of retrospective debate, but it has forced the industry, audiences, and regulators to confront an uncomfortable question: Are we doing enough to protect young actors from exploitation?
Until systemic safeguards are put in place, the industry risks repeating its mistakes, at the cost of its youngest and most vulnerable talents.
