In an unprecedented intersection of entertainment and politics, Telugu film stars Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu have forcefully refuted claims made by Telangana Minister Konda Surekha linking their divorce to prominent political figure KT Rama Rao (KTR).
The controversy has sparked a heated debate about the boundaries between public figures’ private lives and political discourse.
How did Naga-Samantha’s divorce turn into controversy?
The situation escalated when Minister Surekha publicly alleged, “KTR was the reason behind the divorce of Naga Chaitanya and Samantha…” This statement prompted swift and strong responses from both actors, who separated two years ago.
Naga Chaitanya to Telangana Minister Konda Surekha
Naga Chaitanya, who recently became engaged to actor Sobhita Dhulipala in August, issued a stern statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling the minister’s claims “not only false but absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable.”
He emphasized the personal nature of their separation, stating, “After a lot of thought, a mutual decision was made by me and my former spouse to part ways. It was a decision made in peace, owing to our different life goals.”
Samantha opens up on this controversy
That’s not it, even Naga’s ex-wife, Samantha Ruth Prabhu took to Instagram to address the controversy directly, demanding that politicians keep her personal life out of their political battles.
“My divorce is a personal matter and I request that you refrain from speculating about it… To clarify: my divorce was mutual consent and amicable, with no political conspiracy involved,” she wrote, criticizing the minister’s “speculation, misrepresentation of facts, and trivialisation of her journey as a woman.”
The controversy drew in veteran actor Nagarjuna Akkineni, Chaitanya’s father, who demanded a retraction of the minister’s statements, calling them “completely irrelevant and false.” He urged politicians to “respect other people’s privacy” and avoid using movie stars’ personal lives for political gain.
Telangana Minister Surekha’s Clarification:
Facing mounting criticism, Minister Surekha issued a clarification, stating her comments were meant to address a broader issue of “belittling of women” rather than to hurt Samantha’s sentiments. She offered an unconditional retraction, saying, “The way you have grown up with self-power is not only an admiration for me… but also an ideal. If you or your fans are offended by my comments, I unconditionally retract my comments.”
The incident has sparked broader discussions about the intersection of celebrity privacy and political rhetoric, highlighting the challenges public figures face in maintaining personal boundaries while living in the spotlight. Both actors have received widespread support for their stance on keeping personal matters separate from political discourse.
