Superstar-turned-Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan took a dig at reigning star Allu Arjun and his dark role in ‘Pushpa The Rise’ "In the past, heroes portrayed the roles of forest conservators and righteous individuals. But today, we see those who engage in deforestation and smuggling portrayed as heroes on screen’ he said at a press meeting today after meeting Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and the state's forest minister to discuss critical issues, particularly the rampant red sandalwood smuggling along the AP-Karnataka border.
He emphasized the need for a joint effort, seeking the Karnataka government's cooperation and support from their police department to effectively combat this illegal activity
He also referred to the iconic Kannada film "Gandhada Gudi," starring the legendary Raj Kumar, as a prime example of how society should actively oppose smuggling activities. However, his subsequent comment about smugglers becoming cinematic heroes has sparked speculation about a possible indirect dig at Allu Arjun, who plays a sandalwood smuggler in the blockbuster film "Pushpa."
The actor-turned-politician comments come at a time when the red sandalwood smuggling issue has garnered significant attention, highlighting the need for stricter border control and collaborative efforts between the two states. Whether his reference to "Pushpa" was intentional or simply a general observation about cinematic trends remains unclear.
