A local court today directed popular Tamil actress Khushboo to appear before it on October 14, in connection with a suit filed against her by four city-based lawyers for her remarks on pre-marital sex in a recent interview to a Tamil magazine.

Magistrate Ms Uma Maheswari posted the hearing to October 14 and directed the actress to appear before the court in person.

The advocates Ms Chitra, Ms Jayalaksmi, Ms Gomathi and Ms Jayanthirani had filed the suit in the judicial magistrate court II, demanding legal action against the actress.

The advocates had also sent a memorandum to South Indian Film Artistes Association (SIFAA) president Vijayakant and secretary Sarath Kumar, yesterday, seeking to expel Khushboo from the association.

The advocate charged that the remarks made by the actress belittled the culture and tradition of Tamil women and hence SIFAA's image would also be tarnished.

The actress's remarks in the interview also sparked off a series of protests.