Film Industry responds strongly to Minister Konda Surekha's allegations
Hyderabad: Tollywood has come together following remarks made by Konda Surekha, the Minister for Forest and Environment and Member of the Telangana Legislative Assembly from Warangal East, regarding the recent divorce of film stars.
Megastar Chiranjeevi Konidela addressed the derogatory comments made by Minister Surekha, stating, “I am extremely pained to see the disgraceful remarks made by an honorable woman minister. It is a shame that celebrities and members of the film fraternity become soft targets as they provide instant reach and attention. We, as the Film Industry, stand united in opposing such vicious verbal assaults on our members.”
His tweet further read as, “No one should stoop to this level for political points by dragging unconnected people, especially women into their political slugfest and making distasteful fictional allegations. We choose our leaders to make society a better place to live in, not to contaminate it by lowering the discourse. I trust the concerned will make amends and withdraw these malicious remarks immediately. #FilmIndustryWillNotTolerate”
Jr NTR expressed his disapproval, saying, “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, particularly 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 behaviour in democratic India.”
Actor Nani condemned the comments, stating, “It’s disgusting to see politicians thinking they can get away with talking nonsense. When your words can be so irresponsible, it’s foolish to expect you will take responsibility for your actions. This is not just about actors or cinema; it reflects poorly on our society as a whole. It is unacceptable for someone in a respectable position to make such baseless statements in front of the media.”
Allu Arjun added, “I strongly condemn the baseless derogatory comments made about film personalities and families. This behavior is deeply disrespectful and goes against the values of our Telugu culture. Such irresponsible actions should not be normalized. I urge all parties involved to act more responsibly and respect individual privacy, particularly towards women.”
Akkineni Nagarjuna called Surekha’s comments “irrelevant and false,” demanding a retraction. He stated, “Don’t use the lives of movie stars who stay away from politics to criticize your opponents. As a woman in a responsible position, your comments and accusations against our family are completely irrelevant and false. I request you to withdraw your comments immediately.”
Akkineni Amala expressed her shock, saying, “I am shocked to hear a woman minister turn into a demon, conjuring evil allegations and preying on decent citizens as fuel for a political war. This is truly shameful. If leaders lower themselves into the gutter, what will happen to our country?”
Akhil Akkineni voiced his support for his mother Amala, stating, “I support every word you have said, and I’m with you and the family. I’m sorry that you have to address this nonsense, but sometimes we have no choice but to deal with such sociopaths.”
Sushanth and Naga Susheela also condemned the minister's remarks, urging her to retract her statements and apologize. Sushanth remarked, “With power comes responsibility! It is shocking to hear a Minister make such derogatory statements involving my family without any truth.”
The controversy erupted during a media briefing on October 2, 2024, where Surekha made controversial comments involving politician and Tollywood actors.