'Shame on you for calling yourself a leader': Khushbu Sundar tears into Udhayanidhi Stalin over Trisha Krishnan row
Khushbu slams Udhayanidhi, says misogynistic politics has no place in public life
The political storm surrounding Udhayanidhi Stalin's alleged remarks about actor Trisha Krishnan has intensified, with actor-politician Khushbu Sundar launching a blistering attack on the former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister.
Calling his comments "vulgar, crude and crass," Khushbu in an interview with NDTV accused him of perpetuating a culture where women are routinely used as political punching bags and said leaders should be held to a higher standard of public conduct.
The controversy erupted after remarks allegedly made by Udhayanidhi during a public meeting sparked widespread outrage, drawing criticism from political parties, women's groups and members of the film fraternity. While he didn't take Trisha's name specifically, his crude remark did not go down well with her fans and Vijay's supporters.
The issue soon escalated into a legal battle, with Tamil Nadu Police registering a case against the DMK leader. He was arrested on Tuesday before being granted bail later that night following directions from the Madras High Court, according to reports.
Breaking her silence on the issue, Khushbu told NDTV that while she was disappointed by Udhayanidhi's remarks, she was not entirely shocked.
"I was not surprised at all. I have seen these kinds of misogynist, sexist remarks. And I have seen women being abused in the DMK earlier. So it's finally the legacy that you are taking forward," she said.
Khushbu revealed that she had expected a different kind of politics from Udhayanidhi, given his age and the positions he has held in government.
"I didn't expect this from Udhayanidhi Stalin because I thought he was young. He was the former deputy chief minister and youth affairs minister, so I thought this man would be different. But it's very surprising that here you have Udhayanidhi Stalin coming up with these kinds of very vulgar, crude and crass statements. And there's not even an iota of remorse," she said.
'Who gave you the birthright to abuse a woman?'
Moving beyond the controversy itself, Khushbu argued that the incident reflected a much deeper problem in Indian politics, where women are frequently dragged into political battles and subjected to personal attacks.
Questioning why female actors and women in public life continue to become easy targets, she said, "Who gave you the birthright to abuse a woman on a public platform? And it's not Udhayanidhi Stalin alone; it's across political parties."
She added that resorting to insults against women exposes weakness rather than strength.
"How long are you going to abuse a woman to prove a point? How weak does a man have to be to talk in such a disrespectful manner about a woman, to fire a gun from a woman's shoulder and say that, 'I am the strong man. I am a leader'? Shame on you for calling yourself a leader here."
Khushbu also challenged political leaders to prove their strength without dragging women into public debates.
"If you are man enough, if you say that I am a leader, stand up without abusing a woman. Let's see if you can do it."
'The applause came from loyalists, not the public'
The actor-politician also dismissed the cheers that followed the controversial remarks at the rally, claiming they represented party loyalists rather than public opinion.
"In the Assembly elections, DMK members themselves have not voted for the party. Their own family members have not voted for the DMK. So it is not the public who is clapping here. It is your own 'chamchas' (sycophants) who are hooting and clapping and whistling, finding pleasure in seeing a woman being abused. That just shows their misogynistic, dirty mindset," she alleged.
According to Khushbu, the applause was symptomatic of a larger political culture that normalises misogyny instead of condemning it. She urged political leaders across party lines to reject personal attacks and engage in debates based on issues rather than insults.
'Women are not toys to play with'
Asked whether Udhayanidhi Stalin's arrest amounted to an excessive response, Khushbu defended the police action, saying it sent a strong message that women cannot be demeaned without consequences.
She said women "cannot be pawns or toys to play with," adding that accountability is essential if public discourse is to become more respectful.
Khushbu also linked the controversy to the changing political landscape in Tamil Nadu following the recent Assembly elections.
"The DMK was living in a balloon of make-believe. This election proved that this balloon, where they thought that nobody could touch them, has been burst," she said.
The Trisha Krishnan controversy has since evolved beyond a dispute involving a film star. It has reignited a larger conversation about misogyny in political rhetoric, the treatment of women in public life and the responsibility of elected representatives to uphold civility in their speeches. With legal proceedings underway and political reactions continuing to pour in, the row shows little sign of dying down.
