A recent flurry of comments in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, particularly from prominent legislators like Nandamuri Balakrishna and Kamineni Srinivas, has prompted beloved actor and former parliamentarian K. Chiranjeevi to publicly clarify his involvement in the sensitive issue of cinema ticket pricing.
During the Assembly session on September 25, Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna raised eyebrows by implying that Chiranjeevi’s discussions with the previous YSRCP government and various film industry stakeholders were perhaps exaggerated or not as significant as portrayed. This remark quickly fueled a fresh wave of public discussion.
In a detailed press release, Chiranjeevi laid out the exact sequence of events. He explained that during the tenure of the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government, a collective of leading Telugu film producers and directors—a star-studded group including S.S. Rajamouli, Koratala Siva, Trivikram Srinivas, Mahesh, and N.T. Rama Rao Jr.—reached out to him. Their concern was the escalating production costs within the industry and the urgent need to revise cinema ticket rates to ensure viability.
Responding to their appeal, Chiranjeevi personally reached out to the then State Minister for Cinematography, Perni Venkataramaiah (fondly known as Nani). This contact paved the way for a crucial one-on-one meeting with the Chief Minister himself. Chiranjeevi underscored that his sole purpose in meeting the Chief Minister was to articulate the genuine concerns and challenges faced by the film industry. These discussions were fruitful, ultimately leading to government approval for an increase in ticket prices, a move that brought much-needed relief and benefits to producers, distributors, and exhibitors across the state.
He emphatically clarified that his intervention was purely professional, driven by a desire to support the industry he deeply cares about, and was devoid of any personal or political motivations. In a related development, the All India Chiranjeevi Youth Association swiftly condemned Balakrishna’s comments, labeling them disrespectful to Chiranjeevi and deeply offensive to the “Mega family” as a whole. The association has publicly demanded an apology, cautioning that a failure to do so could lead to widespread public protests. They also highlighted Chiranjeevi’s consistent dignified silence in the face of past provocations, emphasizing his commitment to rising above petty controversies. Chiranjeevi, who is currently overseas, issued his clarifying statement via press release.