HYDERABAD: After notices are learnt to have been issued to as many as 10 Tollywood personalities in the wake of a crackdown on procurement, supply and peddling of narcotic drugs, the Movie Artistes Association has issued an open warning to young stars against use of drugs.
Twelve persons, including foreign nationals, have been arrested by the state prohibition and excise department’s task force in the last 10 days for procurement and supply of drugs. The department has issued notices to 26 schools and 27 colleges, cautioning them against drug abuse by their students. Similar notices are said to have been issued to Tollywood actors too.
Veteran film producer Allu Aravind told mediapersons on Wednesday that certain people, who may be involved in the business, were defaming the industry. “We learnt that some young stars may be indulging in drugs. It may be just 10 of them, but that is affecting the entire industry. It might seem like no one knows what is going on, but the police are keeping a track and so are people in the industry,” he said and warned that they needed to get rid of these habits or would have to face the consequences. “They will have to face difficult consequences. Also, the police are not trying to punish them but help them get de-addicted. So, it is better that they come clean,” he advised.
The producer also opined that rave culture is a borrowed concept from Mumbai’s Bollywood industry and now youngsters in Tollywood have become slaves of drugs. This needs to stop, he said.Producer D Suresh Babu pointed out that Tollywood had a healthy environment and those indulging in drugs should stop doing it. “It is our collective responsibility,” he said.Shivaji Raja, president of Movie Artistes Association, said they would make efforts to eliminate this social problem as soon as possible and spread awareness about the same.
Actors, directors told to undergo tests
A few actors and directors from Tollywood have to face questions from Telangana prohibition and excise department in connection with narcotics and psychotropic substances as notices were sent directing them to undergo examination. Director of excise department’s enforcement wing Akun Sabharwal said that the names of those film personalities figured in the statements given by drug peddlers who were caught. It is learnt that notices were sent to over six actors.