Nandamuri Balakrishna a well-known actor and politician has often found himself at the center of various controversies. His actions and statements have frequently sparked public outrage and media scrutiny. Here, we explore five significant controversies involving Balakrishna.
Bellamkonda incident
In 2004 Balakrishna was involved in a serious incident where he shot at filmmaker Bellamkonda Suresh and his associate Satyanarayana Chowdhary. The revolver used in the incident was registered under his wife Vasundhara Devi’s name. Balakrishna claimed he lost consciousness after firing the shots and was taken to a private hospital. Following his arrest he stated that he acted in self-defense because Bellamkonda and Satyanarayana attacked him with a paper-knife.
Initially Bellamkonda accused Balakrishna of shooting with the intent to kill. However he later retracted his statement laiming amnesia and stating he didn’t remember who shot him, although he did recall not attacking Balakrishna with a paper-knife. Despite the seriousness of the incident and the injuries sustained by both Bellamkonda and Satyanarayana the case was ultimately dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Comments during a pre-release event
In 2016 during a public event Balakrishna made derogatory remarks about women which sparked widespread criticism. He suggested that his fans preferred him to perform certain types of roles that involved more aggressive behavior towards women. He said, “I can only do certain kinds of roles due to my fans. Will they agree if I woo girls or just eve-tease? They won’t accept. I have to either kiss her or make her pregnant in the least. I have to commit to it.”
These comments were condemned as misogynistic and inappropriate. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) of which Balakrishna is a member later issued an apology on his behalf. The statement claimed that Balakrishna regretted his remarks and apologized if they had hurt anyone’s feelings stating that he was only joking and that he had always respected women.
Slapping Spree
Balakrishna has gained notoriety for slapping fans and individuals in public. This behavior has been witnessed multiple times, including incidents in Nandyal and Tirupati where he slapped fans who approached him. Director Puri Jagannadh defended these actions suggesting that fans enjoyed and even desired such interactions.
In 2021 Balakrishna slapped a fan in Hindupur for aiming a phone camera at him. Despite the controversy the fan publicly stated that he didn’t mind the slap. In 2017 he slapped a fan in Nandyal who accidentally fell on him while taking a selfie and threw another fan’s phone during a screening. These incidents have painted a troubling picture of Balakrishna’s interactions with his fans, yet he has faced little to no repercussions.
Jai Simha Sets Incident
A video surfaced in 2018 from the sets of the film Jai Simha showing Balakrishna abusing an assistant. In the video he is seen hitting the assistant on the head and ordering him to tie his shoes. Balakrishna continues conversing with the crew while the assistant works on his boots seemingly unaware or unconcerned that his actions were being recorded.
The video sparked outrage with many calling for a ban on Balakrishna due to his abusive behavior. However despite the public outcry there were no significant consequences for him. The incident reinforced the perception that the film industry and his fans often enable his problematic behavior.
Radhika Apte’s Experience
Actress Radhika Apte shared a disturbing experience involving a “powerful” south actor which many believed was Balakrishna, during an interview on the show BFFs with Vogue. Without naming him she recounted feeling uncomfortable on the sets of two Telugu films she worked on with him “Legend” and “Lion.”
Radhika described an incident where the actor tickled her feet without her consent on her first day on set. She reacted by snapping at him in front of everyone demanding that he never do that again. The actor did not touch her again but the experience left a lasting impression on her. Radhika contrasted this with her positive experience working with Rajinikanth highlighting the disparity in behavior and respect on different sets.
