By Vishwak Sen Gets Emotional as He Apologizes for ‘Laila’ Co-Star Prudhvi Raj’s Political Remark Amid Boycott Calls
Vishwak Sen’s upcoming film, ‘Laila,’ has become embroiled in controversy following comments made by actor Prudhvi Raj during its pre-release event on February 9. His remarks, which carried political undertones linked to the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections, have sparked backlash, particularly from supporters of the YSR Congress Party. This has led to widespread calls for a boycott of the film on social media.
The controversy erupted when Prudhvi Raj, who plays Mekala Satti in ‘Laila,’ made an indirect reference to the YSR Congress Party’s electoral performance while discussing a scene from the film. His mention of “11 goats” was perceived as a dig at the party’s seat count, triggering outrage among its supporters. As a result, the hashtag #BoycottLaila began trending on social media platforms, amplifying the backlash against the film.
In response to the growing criticism, Vishwak Sen addressed the issue during a press meet in Hyderabad. Visibly emotional, he distanced himself from Prudhvi Raj’s statements and expressed frustration over being unfairly targeted. He explained that the film’s team was unaware of Prudhvi Raj’s comments at the time because they were preoccupied with welcoming the event’s chief guest, megastar Chiranjeevi.
“Why should I be blamed for someone else’s mistake? We actors have become soft targets. We worked hard on this film, and now over 25,000 posts are calling for its boycott based on something we had no control over. Please support our film,” Vishwak Sen pleaded in his statement.
Producer Sahu Garipati also addressed the controversy, urging the public to evaluate ‘Laila’ purely as a film and not let the issue influence their perception. He emphasized that the film’s cast and crew had put immense effort into making the project a success and should not be held accountable for the statements of a single individual.
Despite the controversy, ‘Laila’ remains on track for its scheduled theatrical release on February 14. Directed by Ram Narayan, the film features Akanksha Sharma as the female lead alongside Vishwak Sen. The movie has generated significant anticipation, with fans eagerly awaiting its release.
The backlash against ‘Laila’ reflects the growing sensitivity around political discourse in the entertainment industry. While films have often been at the center of political debates, this incident underscores the challenges actors and filmmakers face when political interpretations overshadow artistic efforts. The demand for a boycott highlights how quickly online outrage can escalate, potentially affecting a film’s box office performance.
Vishwak Sen’s emotional appeal during the press meet resonated with many, as he expressed the difficulties actors face in navigating controversies beyond their control. His statement emphasized the need for audiences to separate entertainment from politics and judge films based on their merit rather than external controversies.
Meanwhile, Prudhvi Raj has not yet responded to the criticism or clarified his comments. His political affiliations have been well-documented in the past, adding fuel to the speculation that his statements were intentional. However, whether the controversy will have a lasting impact on ‘Laila’ remains to be seen.
As the release date approaches, the film’s success at the box office may depend on how audiences perceive the controversy and whether the calls for a boycott influence ticket sales. With Vishwak Sen and the production team making efforts to clarify their stance, it remains to be seen if the backlash will subside or continue to pose challenges for the film’s reception.
Ultimately, ‘Laila’ serves as yet another example of how politics and cinema often intersect in India’s entertainment industry. Whether this controversy will boost the film’s visibility or hinder its performance will only become clear once it hits theaters on February 14.
