Actor, Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister, and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan recently declared that Telangana is nobody’s ‘ayya jagir’ (father’s property) after he was denied permission to hold a public meeting in the state. He received backlash for the statement and has since repealed it. When Prakash Raj criticised Pawan for wanting to enter Telangana politics, filmmaker-actor Bandla Ganesh slammed him for ‘sticking his nose’ in everything.
What did Prakash Raj say to Pawan Kalyan?
Without naming Pawan, Prakash wrote a sarcastic post in Telugu on X (formerly Twitter). It translates to: “If you say you’re coming, would we say no? Do come, Sir…But before you do—are you coming on your own? Are you coming with an alliance? Or are you coming solo? Let us know that before you come. #justasking.” The statement is a dig at his co-star with Prakash wondering if Pawan will run elections solo or with a central party. JSP contested the AP elections with TDP and BJP. The actor-politician did not respond publicly to his comment.
How did Bandla Ganesh react?
Ganesh, known for his fondness for Pawan, slammed Prakash for his comment, even questioning his identity. He wrote, “Why do you have to stick your nose into everything? Who the hell are you, anyway? Are you a Tamilian, a Telugu person, or a Kannadiga? Where are you from, and what’s your story?”
Prakash, whose roots are in Karnataka, has been vocal in the past about being a pan-India artist. In 2017, the actor even famously said, “Nobody has the right to tell that I’m not a Thamizhan (Tamil person). I have lived with you, I am one of you, and I am as much a Tamilian as anyone else.” He said it during a joint event of the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) and the Nadigar Sangam.
Ganesh also questioned whether Prakash was a government official to question everyone. “Are you a District Collector or the Prime Minister of the country, that you go barging into every town and every issue just to pass judgment? You seem to be everywhere I look; no matter the topic, there you are. If you’ve got nothing better to do with your life, find yourself some work—but don’t go meddling in everyone else’s business and acting like a hero. First, figure out who *you* are; *then* try to change the world!” he wrote.
Prakash worked in Govindudu Andarivadele (2014), which Ganesh produced and Suswagatham (1998), which they both starred in. Pawan and Prakash have starred together in numerous films, including Suswagatham (1998), Badri (2000), Jalsa (2008), Cameraman Gangatho Rambabu (2012), and Vakeel Saab (2021).
