Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA and actor Balakrishna’s unsavoury comments about women at a film-audio launch landed him in trouble. Telangana Advocates Joint Action Committee filed a complaint against the actor at the Saroornagar police station in Hyderabad on Monday. The advocates’ body demanded action against the actor for his “sexist remarks” against women.
“If I play eve-teasing roles, and just follow girls, my fans will not accept. Either a kiss should be given or they should be made pregnant. That’s all. We have to commit ourselves,” Balakrishna said at the audio launch of Savitri. The film stars Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s nephew Nara Rohith.
Speaking to the media, advocates Ravikumar and Govardhan Reddy termed Balakrishna’s remarks as irresponsible. “Such unpleasant comments by an MLA will aggravate atrocities against women,” they said.
The popular Telugu hero drew flak from both opposition parties and women’s organizations. However, he quickly apologized on Sunday for his remarks.
In a press release the actor said, “My comments, made during the audio release of Telugu movie, Savitri, were not intentional. They were not intended towards anybody. If anybody got annoyed by my remarks, I apologize to them.”
Balakrishna, who cannot be considered a great orator like his father and former chief minister N T Rama Rao, explained the context in which in which he made those remarks. He said that he selects stories that satisfy his fans. “I have utmost respect for women. I treat any woman as my own sister. It is a tradition I acquired from my father NTR. I never show disrespect to the members of the fairer sex,” Balakrishna said.
