1 october 2024 : Allu Arjun publicly criticized Telangana leader Konda Surekha’s recent remarks regarding Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya’s divorce. He expressed his disapproval through a social media post, echoing a sentiment shared by other celebrities such as Chiranjeevi, Sudheer Babu, and Lakshmi Manchu.
In his statement, Allu Arjun wrote, “#FilmIndustryWillNotTolerate,” a phrase also used by his uncle, Chiranjeevi. He condemned the “baseless derogatory comments” aimed at film personalities and emphasized that such behavior is disrespectful and contradicts Telugu cultural values. He urged those involved to act more responsibly and respect personal privacy, particularly concerning women, stressing the importance of promoting dignity in society.
Chiranjeevi reiterated similar thoughts on X (formerly Twitter), lamenting that celebrities often become easy targets for sensationalism, stating, “No one should stoop to this level for scoring political points by dragging unconnected people, especially women, into their political battles and making distasteful fictional allegations.”
Sudheer Babu labeled Surekha’s remarks as “appalling,” asserting that their industry would not be intimidated by her tactics. He noted, “You’re not just insulting women; you’re disrespecting the entire industry that brings pride to Telangana. It’s time to shift focus from gossip to governance.” Lakshmi Manchu highlighted the unfair expectations on actors to remain silent, especially when such comments come from another woman, saying, “This stings, and it’s deeply unfair.”
Surekha had claimed that BRS party leader KT Rama Rao (KTR) was responsible for Samantha’s divorce, alleging that he used to tap the phones of female actors and blackmail them. She stated, “It is KT Rama Rao because of whom Samantha’s divorce happened… He used to make them drug addicts.”
Following the backlash, she clarified her intentions on X, stating that she meant to highlight KTR’s alleged disrespect toward women, not to malign Samantha’s image. She expressed admiration for Samantha’s personal growth and retracted her comments if they had caused any hurt. KTR, in response, issued a defamation notice to Surekha, accusing her of attempting to tarnish his reputation and demanding a withdrawal of her statements.
