HYDERABAD: If glitz, glamour and stardom are the goodies you receive for being in the film industry, then controversies and gossip become your unwanted sidekicks. It doesn’t matter if you did anything right or wrong, there’s no movie industry without rumors and controversies, and a whole lot of fire (where sometimes there might not even be a smoke). While the drugs scandal has ruptured the reputation of the Telugu film industry, it’s not the first time that Tollywood personalities burnt their fingers for infamous scandals
Chalapathi rao’s sexist comments
Senior actor Chalapathi Rao who became a real life baddie character after his derogatory statements on women at the pre release of Rarandoi Veduka Chudham. Chalapathi Rao was asked his thoughts on women at the event to which he had said, “Ammayilu hanikaram kadu kani.. pakkalo ki paniki vastharu (Women are only fit for sleeping with men).” The comment sparked widespread outrage on social media, television channels and saw people even posting it on Youtube, condemning the actor and his remarks.
A complaint lodged with the Jubilee Hills police, eventually forcing him to tender a hand-written apology to women. It was followed by the film producer Nagarjuna tweeting, “I always respect women personally and in my films. I definitely do not agree with Chalapathi Rao’s derogatory comments”. The Movie Artists’ Association (MAA) flashed Rao’s apology and said that they would convene a general body meeting and formulate steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future.
Bharath Raju’s drunken and driving
More recently, such controversies have spread from Tollywood stars to their kin as well. Bharath Raju, budding actor and brother of actor Ravi Teja, was killed in a car accident on June 24 2017, while allegedly driving in an inebriated state. Police had found empty liquor bottles in the car that rear-ended a stationary truck near Kothwalguda, killing its 45-year-old occupant on the spot. Suspicions grow stronger as Bharath Raju had a history of being arrested for the alleged possession of drugs. Bharath along with his brother, Raghu were arrested by the police in 2010 along with a Nigerian convict in a drug scandal. They were driving Ravi Teja’s car when police had found drugs inside the vehicle during a check at Banjara Hills.
Nag’s encroachment
The elite of the film industry have also had their share of controversies. Akkineni Nagarjuna had been pulled up by the GHMC in June 2014 after the latter accused the former of encroaching on about three acres of lake land to build the N Convention Centre at Tammid Kunta, Madhapur. Both the revenue and the municipal corporation officials served notices on the N Convention on the charges of land encroachment. “If the Convention management decides to hand over the encroached land to the state government, there would not be any further action against the management. If it does not come forward to hand over the land, a land grabbing case would be filed against the actor and the unauthorised structure would be demolished,” a senior official of the GHMC had said
Jeevitha’s drama on TV
Director Jeevitha Rajasekhar was caught in the midst of a controversy when she had threatened an auto driver to appear on her marriage counselling themed TV show, Bathuku Jataka Bandi and made him reveal his personal issues with his wife against his wishes. The auto driver eventually filed a case against the actress and her PA at the Chilkalguda police station. They had a voice recording as proof.
Rape of Avanthika
Rajamouli’s magnum opus, Baahubali, one of the highest grossing films in recent times was not devoid of its share of controversy along with its success. The scene between actors Prabhas and Tamannah Bhatia wherein Tamanna is apparently “tamed” from being a fierce warrior to a coy, “more feminine” dancer against her will had sparked outrage among some section of movie goers who felt that the scene promotes the denial of consent in romantic relations, with some even titling it “The rape of Avanthika”. The scene was cast down by many owing to the impression it would create among the movie going audience at a time when society was still grappling with the meaning of consent in romantic and sexual relationships.
Jalebi? not cool!
Telugu comedian Ali made sexist comments about actor Anushka Shetty at audio launch of Size Zero, where the comedian called the actor a ‘hot jalebi’ and went on to speak about her thighs, comparing them to those of her co-star Sonal Chauhan. He said, “You'd asked the other girl (Sonal Chauhan) to slap her thighs. However, she has no thighs. Anushka has really remarkable thighs." In 2014, during the audio success meet of Telugu film S/O Sathyamurthy, he had made a few comments about actor Samantha’s midriff.
Drugs? Not new to T’wood!
Adding to the list of celebrities caught in the latest drug scandal is actress Mumaith Khan, whom officials of the special investigation team have been trying to locate at both Hyderabad and Mumbai in order to serve her a notice, but in vain. The SIT officials were shocked when they came to know that Mumaith is one of the contestants of Bigg Boss Telugu. The show-runners were tight-lipped on the names of the contestants who will be part of the first season of the show. The officials are now contemplating to serve the notice to Mumaith on the sets of the show. Reports suggest that the SIT officials had plans to question Mumaith along with other celebrities from July 19.
Now ‘Deep’!
Actor Navdeep, whose name finds prominence in the latest drug scandal, was embroiled in controversies much before when he was caught by the police was rash and negligent driving in an inebriated state and made to pay a fine of Rs 8,000 for the offence. It was in May 2010 that Navdeep was stopped by traffic police near Cancer Hospital in Jubilee Hills during a special drive to crack down on drunken driving. But Navdeep tried to flee and in the process crashed into a police barricade. Subsequently, he obstructed traffic police from discharging their duties. When subjected to a breathalyse test, he was found to have consumed alcohol beyond the permissible level for driving.