Hyderabad: Leading figures in the Telugu film industry have severely reacted against statements made by Telangana Minister Konda Surekha (from Congress party), which associate actor Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s divorce with KT Rama Rao, the leader of Bharat Rashtra Samithi.
Naga Chaitanya supported his former wife Samantha Ruth Prabhu after minister’s comment
In a post on X, seasoned actor Chiranjeevi expressed his “great pain” at witnessing the minister’s “disgraceful remarks.”
“It is a shame that celebs and members of film fraternity become soft targets as they provide instant reach and attention. We as Film Industry stand united in opposing such vicious verbal assaults on our members,” Mr. Chiranjeevi said.
NT Rama Rao Junior, also referred to as Jr NTR, was another well-known actor to comment on the intense controversy surrounding the Congress leader. The “RRR” star addressed the minister in a message on social media, saying “dragging personal lives into politics is a new low. Public figures, especially those in responsible positions like you, must maintain dignity and respect for privacy. It’s disheartening to see baseless statements thrown around carelessly, especially about the film industry.”
“We will not sit quietly while others make baseless allegations against us. We should rise above this and maintain respect for each other’s boundaries. Let’s ensure our society does not normalize such reckless behavior in democratic India,” the actor continued.
Renowned actor Allu Arjun fiercely slammed the remarks with a post and hashtag: “#FilmIndustryWillNotTolerate”.
“I strongly condemn the baseless derogatory comments made about film personalities and film families. This behavior is deeply disrespectful and goes against the values of our Telugu culture. Such irresponsible actions should not be accepted as normal. I urge the parties involved to act more responsibly and respect individual privacy, especially towards women. We must promote respect and dignity in society as a whole,” Allu Arjun said.
Actor Nani said it was “disgusting to see politicians thinking that they can get away talking any kind of nonsense”. “When your words can be so irresponsible it’s stupid of us to expect that you will have any responsibility for your people. It’s not just about actors or cinema. This is not about any political party. It is not okay for someone in such a respectable position to talk such utter baseless rubbish Infront of media and think that it is okay. We all should condemn such practice which will reflect poorly on our society,” he said in a post on X.
All about the controversy
Ms. Surekha ignited a big stir while accusing BRS leader and former minister KT Rama Rao of tapping the phones of actresses and blackmailing them. “KT Rama Rao is the reason behind Samantha’s divorce, … He used to tap the actresses’ phones, uncover their weaknesses, and use that information to blackmail them. He was a minister at the time. He used to turn them into drug addicts before doing this. “Everyone is aware that something like this occurred, including Samantha, Naga Chaitanya, and his family,” the minister stated.
Samantha, Naga Chaitanya and his father reacted
The father of Naga Chaitanya, veteran actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, responded sharply to the remarks. “I strongly oppose the remarks made by Honorable Minister Mrs. Konda Surekha. Don’t utilize the lives of movie stars who stay away from politics to bash your opponents. Please be considerate of others’ privacy. Your remarks and charges against our family, as a responsible woman, are wholly untrue and irrelevant. I ask that you take down your remarks right away.”
“After giving it a lot of thought, my former spouse and I decided to part ways,” stated Naga Chaitanya. “We came to this peaceful choice because we had distinct aspirations for our lives and wanted to proceed as two responsible adults with dignity and respect. But up until now, there have been a number of utterly absurd and unfounded rumors on the situation. I have kept quiet for the entire time out of utmost respect for my family and former spouse.”
“Today, Minister Konda Surekha made a claim that is not only untrue but also utterly absurd and inappropriate. Women deserve to be supported and valued. Taking advantage and exploiting the personal life decisions of celebrities for the sake of media headlines is shameful,” he continued.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu said that a woman needs a lot of bravery and fortitude to succeed in the glamourous industry where women are frequently used as props. “Konda Surekha Garu, please don’t diminish what this journey has taught me; I am proud of who I have become. As a minister, I hope you understand the weight of your remarks. I ask you to exercise responsibility and respect for people’s privacy. My divorce is a private matter, so please don’t make assumptions about it. We don’t encourage misrepresentation since we choose to keep things private,” she stated on social media.
In response to the intense criticism, Ms. Surekha clarified that she did not mean to offend Samantha Prabhu and that her comment was meant to call into question KT Rama Rao’s practice of “belittling women”.
READ: Sadhguru’s Isha foundation in legal trouble
