Telugu Film Industry Unites Against Minister’s Controversial Comments Linking Divorce to Politics
Hyderabad, 3rd October 2024: Prominent figures in the Telugu film industry have voiced strong opposition to Telangana Minister Konda Surekha’s comments that connected Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader KT Rama Rao to the divorce of actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Veteran actor Chiranjeevi expressed his deep disappointment over the “disgraceful remarks” made by the minister in a post on X.
Chiranjeevi stated, “I am extremely pained to see the disgraceful remarks made by an honourable woman minister. It is disheartening that celebrities and members of the film community become easy targets for attention. We, as an industry, stand united against such vicious verbal assaults on our members.” He emphasized that no one should resort to such tactics to gain political advantage by dragging unrelated individuals into their disputes, particularly women. He urged politicians to set a better example and called for the immediate withdrawal of the harmful remarks.
Another actor, Jr NTR, also weighed in on the controversy, condemning the minister’s actions. He remarked, “Dragging personal lives into politics is a new low. Public figures, especially those in influential positions, should uphold dignity and respect privacy. It is disheartening to see baseless statements made, particularly regarding the film industry.”
Jr NTR further stated, “We will not remain silent while unfounded allegations are thrown at us. It is crucial to rise above this and maintain respect for one another’s boundaries. We must ensure that reckless behaviour does not become normalized in a democratic society.”
Renowned actor Allu Arjun expressed his disapproval in a post, using the hashtag #FilmIndustryWillNotTolerate. “I firmly condemn the unfounded derogatory comments directed at film personalities and their families. Such conduct is disrespectful and contradicts the values of our Telugu culture. Irresponsible actions should not be accepted as normal, and I urge all parties involved to act more responsibly and respect individual privacy, particularly concerning women.”
Actor Nani described it as “disgusting” that politicians believe they can speak irresponsibly without consequence. “When public figures make such careless remarks, it’s foolish to expect them to take responsibility for their actions. This issue transcends the film industry; it reflects poorly on our society as a whole.”
Vishnu Manchu, an actor and president of the Movie Artists Association, noted that the film industry is founded on mutual respect and trust, lamenting the use of false narratives for political gain. “As artists, we are accustomed to public attention, but our families deserve the same respect and protection as anyone else’s. Just as no one would appreciate their loved ones being targeted or dragged into unfounded allegations, we demand the same dignity.”
Manchu appealed to leaders and influential figures to refrain from using the names of actors and their families for political gain. “We, as a film fraternity, work hard to entertain and contribute to society, and I earnestly request that personal lives be left out of public discourse.”
Minister Konda Surekha’s controversial remarks included accusations against BRS leader KT Rama Rao of tapping actresses’ phones and blackmailing them, specifically stating, “It is KT Rama Rao who caused Samantha’s divorce… He was a minister at that time and used to tap the phones of the actresses and find their weaknesses to blackmail them.”
In response, Nagarjuna Akkineni, veteran actor and father of Naga Chaitanya, condemned the minister’s comments, urging her to respect the privacy of individuals in the film industry. He stated, “Don’t use the lives of movie stars, who steer clear of politics, to criticize your opponents. Your comments and accusations against our family are irrelevant and false. I ask you to retract your statements immediately.”
Naga Chaitanya described the decision to divorce as “one of the most painful and unfortunate life decisions.” He clarified, “After considerable thought, my former spouse and I made a mutual decision to part ways, driven by our differing life goals. However, there have been various baseless and absurd rumours surrounding our split. I have remained silent out of respect for my ex-spouse and my family.”
He further stated, “Today, Minister Konda Surekha’s claims are not only false but utterly ridiculous. Women deserve support and respect. Exploiting the personal life decisions of celebrities for media attention is shameful.”
Samantha Ruth Prabhu emphasized the courage required for women in the industry, stating, “Konda Surekha Garu, I am proud of the person this journey has made me. Please do not trivialize it. I hope you understand that your words carry weight as a minister. I urge you to be responsible and respectful of individuals’ privacy. My divorce is a personal matter, and I ask that you refrain from speculating about it.”
Samantha clarified, “To set the record straight: my divorce was a mutual decision, amicably reached without any political conspiracies involved. Please keep my name out of political disputes. I have always avoided politics and wish to continue doing so.”
In the face of widespread backlash, Konda Surekha issued a clarification, stating that her remarks were aimed at questioning KT Rama Rao for “belittling women” and that she did not intend to offend Samantha Prabhu. She said, “My comments are meant to question a leader’s belittling of women, not to hurt your sentiments. If you or your fans are offended by my comments, I unconditionally retract them.”
KT Rama Rao, son of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, has sent a defamation notice to the minister, accusing the ruling Congress of engaging in “disgusting and nauseating politics.”
