The Movie Artists' Association (MAA) today decided not to give membership to actress Sri Reddy, who had yesterday staged a sensational
semi-naked protest at the Film Chamber office for the membership among others.
Speaking to the media after an emergency meeting of the body, MAA president Shivaji Raja said that the association had also passed a unanimous resolution that the 900 MAA members would not act with Sri Reddy after her vulgar public protest.
Raja said that they had also lodged a complaint with the police against Reddy.
Clarifying that Reddy's application had been forwarded to MAA a while back, Raja said that she had failed to furnish her certificates and had also not paid the required fee, and was trying to coerce the association into giving her its membership.
He said that it was unfortunate that such an incident took place at the Film Chamber office. He also warned other actors that MAA would ban them from the industry if they behaved like Reddy did.
Actor Naresh said that the media had brought the Sri Reddy issue to the limelight, and that Reddy herself never brought her issues to their notice. He also said that she was insulting the same media now.
Another actor Srikanth asked actors to bring their problems if any to the notice of MAA. MAA would initiate action after inquiring into the complaints lodged with it, but complainants should not create scenes by going to the media, he said. He also asked actors not to encourage people like Reddy.
Character actress Hema said that she had acted in over 300 films, and that opportunities came to actors if their films became hits.
"I faced several problems in my career but never behaved in an indecent manner. Sri Reddy's allegations are far from true," she added.