Telangana’s Forests Minister, Konda Surekha stoked a controversy by alleging that K.T. Rama Rao, a prominent leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, is behind the divorce of actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Responding to her claims, KTR has issued a legal notice against her, accusing her of defamation.
The situation worsened even more as Naga’s father; the well-known Telugu actor Nagarjuna Akkineni criticized Surekha’s comments. He labeled them “completely irrelevant and false” and demanded that she recant her remarks.
Naga Chaitanya and Samantha were married for four years, before their separation in 2021. Naga is now reportedly engaged to actress Sobhita Dhulipala.
What is Konda Surekha’s Allegations?
Speaking to reporters, Surekha asserted that KTR was responsible for the divorce of Naga and Samantha. She went on to say that KTR has a bad influence on the careers of several actresses in the Telugu film industry. She said, “KTR, a drug addict used to throw rave parties for film celebrities. Unable to endure his action, a lot of heroines decided to end their film careers, get married, and settle down.” Her remarks have garnered widespread backlash and anger.
She further added to her statement that KTR demanded to send Samantha in exchange for not demolishing the N-convention center. Nagarjuna pressured Samantha to go to KTR, but she refused. The refusal led to the separation.
Actor Nagarjuna’s Strong Response
Naga Chaitanya’s father Nagarjuna took to his social media X (formerly Twitter) and retorted to the allegations. The actor has urged the minister to respect other people’s privacy and not to use the lives of the film stars in politics.
“I strongly condemn the comments of the Honorable Minister Mrs. Konda Surekha. Don’t use the lives of movie stars who stay away from politics to criticize your opponents. Please respect other people’s privacy. 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,” read a rough translation of his post.
Samantha and Naga Chaitanya’s Reaction
The Telangana minister received harsh criticism from Samantha. The actress advised her to be “responsible and respectful of individuals’ privacy” and to keep her “out of political battles.”
“My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that you refrain from speculating about it. Our choice to keep things private doesn’t invite misrepresentation. My divorce was mutual consent and amicable, with no political conspiracy involved. Could you please keep my name out of political battles? I have always remained non-political and wish to continue doing so,” the actress said through her social media post.
Naga, who has generally kept his personal life private since his divorce, recently came out in defense of his family. He brushed off the minister’s claims as not only false but also completely baseless. Naga criticized people who took advantage of private situations for media attention. He also underlined the value of respecting women and their personal choices.
However, amid the heated situation, Surekha clarified that her remarks were not meant for Samantha. She further appreciated Samantha’s strength and journey of life.
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Naina Jaggi is an author deeply rooted in Journalism, mainly writing on lifestyle, entertainment, travel, politics and financial markets. This diverse experience has allowed her to blend rich details with engaging narratives that capture the essence of various worlds. When she is not crafting tales, you’ll find her immersed in music and enjoying the company of dogs. She is also into K-dramas, thriller and horror movies that fuel her imagination, bringing the same spark to her stories.
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