The Telugu film industry is in uproar over comments made by Minister Konda Surekha while criticizing BRS Working President KTR (K. T. Rama Rao), where she mentioned Samantha, Naga Chaitanya, and Nagarjuna. The Movie Artist Associations have also expressed strong dissatisfaction against Konda Surekha. Various Tollywood stars and celebrities are condemning the Minister’s comments, criticizing them as regrettable and politically motivated.
What actually happened?
Comments by Telangana Minister Konda Surekha have caused tremors in Tollywood. On Wednesday, while making severe allegations against former Minister KTR, the working president of BRS, she dragged the Akkineni family and actress Samantha into the controversy. She criticized KTR for allegedly promoting drug habits among cinema people and accused him of troubling cinema celebrities with rave parties. Furthermore, she sensationalized that KTR was the reason behind Naga Chaitanya and Samantha’s divorce, claiming that KTR demanded Samantha be sent to him to avoid the destruction of an N convention, a claim which Nagarjuna allegedly forced Samantha to comply with but she refused. Surekha stated that it led to the divorce, as it was a situation of “listen or leave.”
Retract Your Comments: Nagarjuna
Actor Nagarjuna has condemned Minister Konda Surekha’s comments. He requested that personal matters of individuals be respected. “I strongly condemn the comments made by Honorable Minister Smt. Konda Surekha. Please do not use the lives of celebrities, who stay away from politics, and your opponents to criticize. Respect the personal matters of individuals. As a responsible woman in a high position, your comments and accusations against our family are completely irrelevant and false. I urge you to retract your comments immediately,” Nagarjuna posted on X.
Do Not Use Actors’ Lives for Headlines: Naga Chaitanya
Actor Naga Chaitanya commented that Minister Surekha’s allegations are unacceptable. “Divorce is one of the most painful and unfortunate aspects of life, decided after much consideration and mutual consent between my ex-wife and me. Many baseless allegations have been made about our divorce in the past. We remained silent out of respect for both families. Minister Konda Surekha’s comments are not only false but also ridiculous. Such remarks are unacceptable. Society should respect women and not use personal decisions of celebrities for media headlines,” Naga Chaitanya stated.
My Divorce Has No Political Influence: Samantha
Samantha responded to Minister Konda Surekha’s comments. “My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that speculations about it cease. It takes a lot of courage and strength for a woman to come forward and fight. Please don’t belittle this. As a minister, I hope you realize the weight of your words. When discussing personal matters, one must act responsibly and respectfully. My divorce was amicable and mutually agreed upon without any political influence. Please keep my name out of politics. I have always been and will continue to be apolitical,” Samantha stated.
Such Accusations Should Not Degrade: Chiranjeevi
Megastar Chiranjeevi also strongly condemned the Minister’s comments. “I am deeply saddened by the disrespectful comments made by the respected female minister. Targeting celebrities and individuals related to the film industry for quick news is disgraceful. We all unanimously oppose such verbal attacks on members of the film industry. Such accusations against individuals, especially women, who are unrelated to politics, should not degrade their stature. We elect our leaders for societal development, not to diminish their own standing with such comments. Political leaders and dignitaries should inspire others with their actions and words,” Chiranjeevi expressed.
I Strongly Condemn Baseless Accusations: Mahesh Babu
Actor Mahesh Babu also responded to the controversy on X. “The comments made by Minister Konda Surekha against prominent members of our film family have greatly distressed me. As a son to a mother, a husband to a wife, and a father to a daughter, such unwarranted comments against another woman are deeply disturbing. The freedom of speech should not harm others’ sentiments. I strongly condemn such baseless and cheap accusations. I also urge that comments not target the film industry. We must respect women and celebrities in our country with the honor they deserve,” Mahesh Babu stated.
The Pinnacle of Degrading Politics: Tarak
Junior NTR criticized the involvement of personal lives in degrading politics. “Dragging personal lives into politics is the pinnacle of degrading politics. Making baseless comments and remaining silent as if we will tolerate it is not acceptable. Those in public life like Minister Konda Surekha should behave responsibly and respectfully, maintaining privacy. It’s truly saddening to see such irresponsible declarations against the film industry. We won’t remain silent if others make such allegations against us. We will definitely raise this issue to ensure mutual respect and boundaries are maintained. Our society in democratic India will never condone negligent behavior,” NTR warned.
This Behavior Is Extremely Disrespectful: Nani
Young hero Nani also gave a strong counter to Minister Konda Surekha. “Seeing politicians make senseless statements is exasperating. Observing how you speak without responsibility makes one question if you really care about your people. This is not just about film actors, the film industry, or a political party. Such groundless accusations by a person in a dignified position are not at all acceptable. We all must condemn actions that negatively impact society and ensure respect for personal privacy, especially for women. We must collectively promote respect and decorum in society,” Nani posted on X.
These Comments Are Only for Political Gain: Venkatesh
Senior actor Venkatesh also commented on the controversy. “Using others’ personal situations for political gain deeply distresses me. Making such comments while holding a responsible position for political benefit is unfortunate. The film industry has been built on mutual respect, hard work, and dedication. Political leaders must maintain respect in public discourse. Bringing personal lives into politics benefits no one and only causes pain to the families involved. Individuals in such significant leadership positions should exercise restraint and empathy. Your actions and words should inspire, not demoralize,” Venkatesh stated.
This Behavior Is Extremely Disrespectful: Allu Arjun
Icon star Allu Arjun also criticized the Minister’s comments. “I strongly condemn the baseless and insulting comments made about celebrities and their families. This behavior is extremely disrespectful and contrary to our Telugu cultural values. Such irresponsible actions should not be accepted as normal. Parties must act responsibly and respect personal privacy, especially of women. Together, we must enhance respect and decency in society,” Allu Arjun stated on social media.
