Kona Venkat Praises Konda Surekha's Apology to Nagarjuna

Telangana Forest and Environment Minister Konda Surekha has once again issued a public apology to actor Akkineni Nagarjuna and his family, reiterating that her earlier remarks were never intended to cause hurt.

Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, November 12, the minister expressed regret and formally withdrew her previous statements.

“I wish to clarify that the statement I had made in relation to @iamnagarjuna garu was not intended to hurt Nagarjuna garu or his family members. I had no intention of hurting or defaming Akkineni Nagarjuna garu or his family members. I regret any unintended impression given in my statements in relation to them and withdraw the same,” she wrote.

The apology comes even as the minister continues to face a defamation case filed by Nagarjuna over her earlier comments. On October 2, 2024, Surekha had made remarks involving former minister and BRS working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) and actor Nagarjuna, suggesting that KTR was responsible for the divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya.

Her statements sparked widespread criticism, prompting an apology the following day to Samantha and the Akkineni family. At that time, she clarified that her comments were directed at KTR and not intended to offend anyone personally.

However, Nagarjuna later filed a criminal defamation case, stating that her remarks had tarnished the reputation his family had built over decades in cinema and social service.

Reacting to the latest apology, producer-writer Kona Venkat, who also has a political lineage, welcomed the development.

“It’s a very good thing to happen,” he said. “Politics and cinema have merged deeply in the two Telugu states over the years, and we need to co-exist in a friendly and healthy atmosphere. Many actors have entered politics, and the relationship between both fields is growing closer. The film industry seeks support from the government, while the government seeks the backing of big stars like Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan for social campaigns such as the anti-drug drive — and that harmony shouldn’t be disturbed.”

Kona Venkat further added, “Konda Surekha garu holds a responsible position, and her comments inevitably impact the image of the government, especially in today’s age of social media. She must weigh her words carefully before making baseless allegations against an illustrious figure like Akkineni Nagarjuna and his family, who aren’t just individuals but representatives of millions of admirers worldwide. Negative remarks can hurt the sentiments of countless fans. The popularity of Telugu stars today is beyond imagination, and politicians must be cautious while speaking about them.”