Right from the day one of assuming office, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy is said to be disinterested in pampering the Telugu film industry, unlike the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government.
Perhaps, he has been under the impression that the Tollywood celebrities had been close to the BRS leaders.
When the BRS was in power, these celebrities and other industry people used to meet K T Rama Rao and Talasani Srinivasa Yadav regularly.
At the same time, they also maintained close relationship with YSR Congress party government led by Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy those days.
Perhaps, this was the reason, Revanth did not evince much interest in holding meetings with the Telugu film industry celebrities.
He had held one meeting where he announced the restoration of abandoned Nandi awards in the name of “Gaddar awards,” but there was not much response from the Tollywood later.
Only Chiranjeevi issued a statement welcoming the Gaddar awards. So far, there was no further action from Tollywood.
Revanth Reddy also cracked whip on drug menace involving Tollywood celebrities.
The recent demolition of N-Convention Centre of Akkineni Nagarjuna also showed how much contempt the chief minister has towards the film industry.
Now, the way the Tollywood reacted so swiftly and in one voice over the alleged derogatory comments made by state environment and forests minister Konda Surekha dragging Akkineni family into the controversy has further upset Revanth Reddy, sources said.
Never in the past did so many Telugu film actors and other personalities react so strongly against any development in the state as they did in the case of Konda Surekha; and every actor who had never come out in the open also made critical comments against the minister.
Though she had issued a statement extending apology to Samantha and Pradesh Congress Committee chief Mahesh Kumar Goud appealed to the Tollywood to forgive and forget the episode, the outburst from Tollywood did not stop.
Revanth Reddy, definitely would not have defended Surekha, but sources said he was also angry with the Tollywood celebrities for their over-reaction.
He is said to be of the view that the Tollywood is turning anti- against his government and acting at the directions of the BRS.
He wondered where these celebrities were when the YSRCP leaders were making abusive comments against NTR’s daughter and N Chandrababu Naidu’s wife Bhuvaneshwari.
These celebrities did not react when there were ugly comments against power star Pawan Kalyan for his multiple marriages.
“They come to the government only if they want any favours like enhancement of ticket rates and screen timings. They also want land allotments. Yet, they do not make any attempt to understand the situation when such remarks are made, but give knee-jerk reaction, condemning a woman minister,” he reportedly commented.