The one who is busy is the one who knows the value of time: Prakash Raj
There’s been a lot of buzz about who’d contest the Movie Artists Association (MAA) 2021 election. While the date for the election is yet to be announced, those competing for the position of MAA President include Jeevitha Rajasekhar, Hema, Manchu Vishnu and Prakash Raj. However, Prakash Raj has been criticised by many, saying that he’s ‘too busy’ an actor and that he may not find time for the welfare of MAA.
The actor — who has apparently introduced his 26 members of his panel titled “CineMAA Biddalu” (which loosely translates to Children of CineMAA) — decided to debunk speculations during a press conference.
“Just as I have time to do so many things in life, such as farming, acting, interacting with people and questioning, I have time for MAA. In fact, I believe the one who’s busy is the one who knows the value of time,” the actor said at the press conference, which was held in Hyderabad on Friday.
Incidentally, Prakash Raj has been considering contesting in the MAA elections for over two years now. “I’ve been speaking with my panel members over the last six months and have a few thoughts that I feel we can execute well. It may do wonders for MAA,” he says.
The actor also states that he doesn’t want to reflect on how things took a murky turn in the past and make it seem as if there’s a divide and rivalry among the artists. “I’d like to see how better we can build this association for the welfare of actors,” says the actor, adding that he even called on Manchu Vishnu to ‘have a healthy election’.
Apparently, to many, his not being a local is a bone of contention too. Prakash Raj, however, lashes out at what he calls non-issues, wondering why he wasn’t criticised on those grounds when he adopted a village in the Telangana State or when he won the National and State Awards.
“When the language of cinema itself is universal, how can there be a divide in terms of nativity?” he reiterated. All said and done, much has been written about how actors have been choosing sides and getting divided around the time of MAA elections. However, the National-Award winning actor clarifies that according to him, the MAA election is an ‘internal issue’ and requests media to take it easy with the subject.
