JOIN USThe Kannada film industry is always bursting with some controversy or the other.
Just days after producer Soorappa Babu sent a letter to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, (KFCC) requesting actor Shivarajkumar to return the advance amount of Rs 20 lakh given to the actor three years ago, for a movie that got shelved, a 45-second video of the producer was leaked on the internet.
The video showed the producer in an intoxicated state degrading the late actor Toogudeepa Srinivas, who is actor Darshan’s father.
On Monday, the members of All Karnataka Darshan Fans’ Association conducted a procession from Anand Rao Circle to the KFCC office, demanding an apology in front of Meena Toogudeepa Sreenivas, who is Darshan’s mother.
Within minutes of the video hitting the internet, it went viral and many people in the industry did not take it too lightly.
Says the president of the KFCC, K V Chandrashekhar, “I have spoken to Soorappa Babu and he has agreed that it was him (Soorappa Babu) in the video. But what I fail to understand is why he had to say such a thing about a respected man, especially when he has no connection with the actor. He should have been more responsible and refrained from using such language.” Chandrashekhar also made it very clear that the Chamber would maintain a neutral stand and would look into the matter if Soorappa Babu lodges a complaint at the KFCC.
Actor Darshan’s family too have not taken the issue lightly.
While Darshan has refrained from commenting, his brother Dinakar says, “Soorappa Babu has no right to criticise anybody like that, our family is hurt by those remarks.”
When asked if the family is taking any action against Soorappa, Dinakar says, “As of now, we have decided not to take up the issue and give him any importance. We don’t have to stoop low like him.”
In the meantime, Gandhinagar was abuzz with rumours saying that video has come out around the same time that he had asked Shivarajkumar to pay back the money.
“It’s really sad that Soorappa Babu had to make such derogatory remarks about such a veteran and respected actor. When the issue of the payment came up, I actually told him that I would do another movie for him but he never had any good scripts. But now, I will talk to him once he clears this issue,” says Shivarajkumar.
But according to sources in the industry, Shivarajkumar is deeply hurt by the turn of events.
The sources said that he would return the money and refrain from acting in Soorappa Babu’s films henceforth.
Despite repeated attempts, Soorappa Babu was unavailable for comment. But according to producer Sa Ra Govind, the ball is in the Artistes’ Association court.
“Since the remarks have been made about an artiste, it has to be the Artistes’ Association, who has to take up the issue.”
Looks like one will have to wait and see how things will turn out.