The Telugu film industry recently witnessed a united front as top stars strongly criticized Telangana Minister Konda Surekha's controversial statements. Surekha had made remarks linking Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao (KTR) with the high-profile divorce of actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The comments sparked outrage among both actors and politicians.

Chiranjeevi Expresses Disgust Over Minister's Remarks

Veteran actor Chiranjeevi, a prominent figure in Telugu cinema, took to social media to voice his displeasure. He expressed being "extremely pained" by the "disgraceful" remarks made by the minister. In a post on X, Chiranjeevi condemned how celebrities often become soft targets due to their public visibility.

"It's shameful that celebs and the film fraternity become easy targets because of the instant reach and attention they provide," Chiranjeevi stated. He called for unity within the industry to oppose such "vicious verbal assaults" and added that politics should not drag unconnected people, especially women, into false allegations.

He urged politicians to set better examples, stating, "We elect leaders to make society better, not to contaminate it by lowering discourse. Politicians in honorable positions should behave responsibly. I hope the concerned will retract these malicious remarks immediately."

I am extremely pained to see the disgraceful remarks made by an honourable woman minister.

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'

— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) October 3, 2024

Jr NTR Condemns Politicization of Personal Lives

NT Rama Rao Jr. (Jr NTR), another leading actor from the Telugu industry and star of the global hit RRR, also expressed his disappointment. He addressed the minister directly in a post, saying, "Dragging personal lives into politics is a new low." Jr NTR emphasized that individuals in responsible positions must maintain dignity and respect others' privacy.

"Public figures must rise above this and maintain respect for one another's boundaries. We will not remain silent while baseless allegations are thrown at us. Such reckless behavior should not be normalized in our democratic society," Jr NTR added.

Konda Surekha garu, 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'

— Jr NTR (@tarak9999) October 2, 2024

Allu Arjun Calls for Respect and Dignity

Renowned actor Allu Arjun, known for his blockbuster film Pushpa, condemned the minister's remarks, describing them as derogatory and baseless. Using the hashtag #FilmIndustryWillNotTolerate, Allu Arjun said, "This behavior is deeply disrespectful and contrary to our Telugu culture."

He urged politicians and the public to respect individual privacy, especially that of women. "Such irresponsible actions should not be normalized. We must promote dignity and respect in our society as a whole," he said.

#FilmIndustryWillNotTolerate pic.twitter.com/sxTOyBZStB

— Allu Arjun (@alluarjun) October 3, 2024

Nani: Irresponsibility in Politics Must End

Actor Nani, a popular star in the industry, expressed his frustration over the incident. He condemned the irresponsible remarks, stating, "It's disgusting to see politicians thinking they can say whatever they want and get away with it."

He added that the issue was not just about actors or cinema but about the general irresponsibility that reflects poorly on society. "Such baseless comments from someone in a respectable position are unacceptable, and we must all condemn this practice."

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 abt any'

— Nani (@NameisNani) October 2, 2024

Minister's Allegations Against KTR and the Akkineni Family

The controversy erupted after Konda Surekha accused BRS leader KT Rama Rao of phone tapping and blackmailing actresses, leading to the divorce of Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya. In her statement, Surekha claimed that KTR, while serving as a minister, exploited actresses by tapping their phones, making them drug addicts, and blackmailing them. She specifically linked these actions to the separation of Samantha and Naga Chaitanya, causing a stir in both political and entertainment circles.

Nagarjuna Akkineni's Strong Rebuttal

Veteran actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, Naga Chaitanya's father, strongly condemned Konda Surekha's remarks. He criticized the minister for dragging their family into political controversies and urged her to respect the privacy of those uninvolved in politics.

In a statement, Nagarjuna said, "As a woman in a responsible position, your comments are completely irrelevant and false. I request you to withdraw your comments immediately."

Naga Chaitanya Breaks Silence on Divorce

For the first time since his separation from Samantha Ruth Prabhu, actor Naga Chaitanya addressed the ongoing speculation about their divorce. He described the divorce as a mutual decision, made with peace and respect for each other's life goals.

"After much thought, my former spouse and I decided to part ways to move forward with respect and dignity. However, various baseless and ridiculous rumors have surfaced about the matter. Today, the claims made by Minister Konda Surekha are false, ridiculous, and unacceptable," Naga Chaitanya said. He called out the exploitation of celebrities' personal lives for political gain, stating that such behavior is shameful.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu Speaks Out

Samantha Ruth Prabhu also responded to the minister's remarks, emphasizing that it takes immense courage for a woman to survive in the glamour industry. She urged the minister to refrain from trivializing her personal life for political purposes and stressed that her divorce was a private matter between her and Naga Chaitanya.

"Konda Surekha Garu, I am proud of my journey, and I ask that you respect my privacy. The divorce was a mutual decision made without any political conspiracy. Please keep my name out of political battles," Samantha wrote in her social media post.

Minister Surekha Issues Clarification

Amid growing backlash, Konda Surekha clarified her remarks, stating that her comments were aimed at questioning KTR's behavior towards women and not intended to hurt Samantha's sentiments. She acknowledged Samantha's strength and power, retracting her earlier comments and offering an unconditional apology.

"My intention was to highlight KTR's belittling of women, not to hurt Samantha. If my words offended her or her fans, I unconditionally retract them," the minister stated.

KTR Responds with Legal Action

Following the controversy, KT Rama Rao responded by sending a defamation notice to Konda Surekha. He condemned the Congress party for resorting to "disgusting and nauseating politics" and vowed to take legal action to protect his reputation.

As this incident unfolds, the Telugu film industry has shown a united front against baseless political attacks. The overwhelming support from top actors highlights the importance of respecting privacy and maintaining decorum in public discourse, especially in sensitive matters like personal relationships.