Telangana Minister Konda Surekha found herself at the center of a political and personal controversy on Thursday after retracting controversial remarks about the South Indian film industry and the highly publicized divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya. Surekha, however, refused to withdraw her comments targeting senior Bharat Raksha Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao (KTR), intensifying the legal and political clash.
The controversy erupted when Surekha claimed that KTR played a role in Samantha and Naga Chaitanya’s separation, further alleging that KTR had blackmailed Samantha in exchange for halting the demolition of actor Nagarjuna Akkineni’s N-Convention Centre. These claims, made during a public appearance, triggered a wave of outrage, with KTR issuing a legal notice demanding a public apology within 24 hours. Failing to comply, KTR warned of defamation and criminal proceedings against Surekha.
In response, Surekha addressed the media on Thursday, offering an apology for her “off-the-cuff” remarks about the Tollywood industry, which she described as a “slip of the tongue.” However, she stood firm on her allegations against KTR, insisting that she had no personal agenda and would respond to the defamation notice in court. “I won’t take back my comments on KTR. He should apologise instead,” she asserted.
The allegations also drew swift reactions from prominent figures in the Telugu film industry. Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu took to Instagram, condemning Surekha’s remarks and calling for privacy. “My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that you refrain from speculating about it. To clarify: my divorce was mutual consent and amicable, with no political conspiracy involved,” she wrote. Samantha urged Surekha to act responsibly and not exploit her personal journey for political gains.
Naga Chaitanya echoed his ex-wife’s sentiments, dismissing the claims as “ridiculous and unacceptable.” He criticized the minister for dragging their personal lives into the political arena, stressing that such statements harm not just those involved but also promote the exploitation of celebrities’ privacy. “Women deserve to be supported and respected,” Chaitanya stated.
Veteran actor Nagarjuna Akkineni also condemned the minister’s remarks, describing them as “baseless and irrelevant.” Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Nagarjuna urged Surekha to retract her comments and avoid involving his family in political attacks. “As a woman in a position of responsibility, your statements and accusations against our family are inappropriate. I request that you take back your comments immediately,” he posted.
Surekha’s initial comments linked KTR to an alleged scheme in which he demanded favors from Samantha in exchange for sparing Nagarjuna’s N-Convention Centre from demolition. On August 24, the convention center was partially demolished for encroaching on lake buffer zones, though Nagarjuna later secured a stay order from the High Court.
The BRS has strongly criticized Surekha’s remarks about KTR, labeling them “uncouth” and “disgusting.” Meanwhile, both Nagarjuna’s family and the Telugu Film Chamber are reportedly preparing to take legal action against the minister.
