After Allu Arjun, Nagarjuna spats, CM’s sops prove Congress fears of backlash from film industry

Tensions between the Congress government and Tollywood have deepened ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election, following a series of disputes with film stars. Many industry workers remain wary, while Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy attempts to ease discontent through assurances

Hyderabad: Is the Congress government fearing a backlash from the Tollywood fraternity in the Jubilee Hills by-election, especially after its recent run-ins with leading film actors? Judging by the party’s appeasement efforts in Krishna Nagar and nearby areas, home to hundreds of film workers across different crafts, and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s promises to them on Tuesday, it appears so.

Following a series of controversies involving prominent film personalities, many workers in Krishna Nagar are reportedly reluctant to back the ruling party. While union leaders are maintaining strategic silence, the ground-level sentiment reflects anxiety over livelihoods.

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“Elections are temporary. Ultimately, we get work and earn our livelihood through cinema shootings. We have to follow the line of the industry,” said a film worker employed as a spot boy and residing in Krishnanagar Block C.

On the surface, the Congress government and Tollywood’s leading figures claim cordial relations, but recent incidents suggest otherwise. The strain began in August 2024, when the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA) demolished part of actor Akkineni Nagarjuna’s N Convention at Madhapur, citing encroachment of the Tummadikunta Lake. The action followed a complaint lodged by Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy regarding the alleged encroachment.

Nagarjuna termed the demolition unlawful but refrained from further comments. However, tensions persisted. In November 2024, he filed an Rs 100-crore defamation suit against Forest Minister Konda Surekha over her remarks concerning his son Naga Chaitanya and actress Samantha’s divorce.

Although Congress leaders tried to play down the controversy, relations worsened after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s sharp remarks against actor Allu Arjun, blaming him for the stampede at the Pushpa 2 screening at Sandhya Theatre in December 2024.

A case was later registered against the actor, and some Congress workers allegedly attacked his residence, damaging part of the property. Since then, the film fraternity and Allu Arjun’s fans have rallied behind him, closely watching every move of the government.

More recently, actor and comedian Rahul Ramakrishna sparked a political row after criticising the Congress government and praising the previous BRS regime. Congress workers took strong objection, forcing him to delete his posts on X. His account was briefly deactivated and later restored.

How these incidents influence the Jubilee Hills bypoll remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the Congress leadership is aware of the potential backlash, with Revanth Reddy’s assurances to the film fraternity on Tuesday reflecting an attempt to contain the fallout.