Actor and former video jockey Rio Raj is facing fresh flak over a film he starred in a year ago. During the promotions of his recent Tamil film, Ram in Leela, he made comments about feminism that did not go down well with the internet. Many also called him out for starring in Aan Paavam Pollathathu last year, as well as pandering to an ‘incel’ audience despite being happily married.
Rio Raj’s take on feminism
On Sudhir Srinivasan’s YouTube channel, Rio spoke about feminism when the host brought up his last release, Aan Paavam Pollathathu. He said, “Feminism is not about taking a stand. We are the ones who talk without knowing what we’re talking about. My mother is a strong lady. She didn’t talk about feminism; she lived it. Without my father’s support, she raised two children.” He clarified that she was not a single mother but still had to raise two children on her own.
The host pointed out that terming women who suffer, bring up children alone without help, mostly due to no choice of their own, as ‘strong’ while sidelining the women who choose not to marry or have children isn’t what feminism is about. The actor then said, “Feminism is a feeling. It has no boundaries, principles or theories; it’s a feeling. That’s not the position we took. Both the characters in my film are flawed.”
Internet bashes Rio Raj for his take
As soon as clips from the interaction circulated on social media, many X (formerly Twitter) users and Redditors had feelings. Many on Reddit are calling the bashing Rio was receiving a ‘ long time coming’. One X user wrote, “Feminism is a “feeling” – Rio Raj. To be subjected to that much nonsense and still keeping your hands, voice & sanity under control..That’s the level of incredible self control I need in my life,” referring to the host.
“As usual a man mansplaining about feminism…… Yikes,” pointed out one person, while another wrote, “Me finding a girl and hitting her with the ultimate line, “I feminise you, deeply” Thank you Lord Rio “D****ebag” Raj.” One even wrote, “Rio is ultra cringe and gives me male chauvinistic vibes.”
One X user pointed out that other actors have been cancelled for less, writing, “Loving the public’s response to @rio_raj ’s f**kass misogynistic incel mentality from that interview. But all I’m saying is that other small actors were cancelled for much less.”
Many questioned why Rio continued to star in films with problematic views despite being happily married to Shruti Ravi. “bro is happily married with love of his life…but why still complaining about women in marriage life constantly in his films? or u just creating cult among men so that they mess up with women who just want to be themselves?” read one comment.
Another wrote, “He is pandering to his target audience. In real life, he has a loving marriage and was a cheerful, romantic husband. However, in films, the scripts mostly portrayed the narrative that “men are the unfortunate ones, while there is nothing to be said against women.”
When Kalaiarasan Thangavel’s Aan Paavam Pollathathu was released, it sparked controversy over its gender politics and portrayal of modern relationships. Many thought the film was biased towards the male character while portraying the female character as shallow. Many even compared it to Varsha Bharath’s Bad Girl, which got female representation right.
Rio, who gained fame on Star Vijay and Sun Music, ventured into films with the 2019 Nenjamundu Nermaiyundu Odu Raja. He hosted Bigg Boss Season 2 Kondattam in 2018, was a guest on Bigg Boss Tamil Season 3 in 2019 and the second runner-up of Bigg Boss Tamil Season 4 in 2020.