The actress says a director kept pressuring her with vague ‘commitment’ promises, leading to a heated confrontation and a viral debate on casting‑couch culture.
Ishwarya Vullingala, the Jabardasth comedian, went public on 24 September 2026. She told a channel that a director kept calling her with promises of “commitment”.
Born in Machilipatnam, she fell in love with acting as a child. She first appeared on‑screen as an anchor. In 2019 she acted in the short film Erazar. The next year she landed a role in the TV serial Chittitalli on Star Maa. She later appeared in Gemini TV’s Bhagyarekha and several web series.
The calls started as story pitches. Then the producer asked about “commitment”. “I didn’t know what commitment meant, so I said I would be very committed and work hard,” she said. The calls kept coming, each hinting at a role that never materialised.
Fed up, she confronted the director. She refused to name him. She walked out of the meeting. “I won’t go to any director who only sees me as a chance,” she added.
Despite a string of serials, TV shows, web series and short films, a solid break still eludes her. She feels the industry has used her talent without giving her a proper platform. The interview clip went viral within hours. Fans and fellow actors flooded social media, reviving the casting‑couch debate in Tollywood.
The conversation isn’t over. Hashtags trend daily. Industry bodies have promised to look into the claims. Ishwarya says she will keep speaking up until change happens.
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