Hansal Mehta slams Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna over controversial incident of him pushing actress Anjali: “Who is this scumbag?” : Bollywood News

Bollywood director Hansal Mehta recently called Telugu cinema star Nandamuri Balakrishna a ‘scumbag’ after a controversial incident at a public event. The incident in question occurred during a pre-release event for the film Gangs of Godavari, in which actress Anjali plays a significant role.

Hansal Mehta slams Telugu star Nandamuri Balakrishna over controversial incident of him pushing actress Anjali: “Who is this scumbag?”

The controversy erupted after a video from the event went viral. The footage shows Balakrishna pushing Anjali aside on stage after she seemingly couldn’t hear him. The action, which appeared abrupt and uncalled for, prompted immediate backlash online.

Hansal Mehta, known for his outspoken nature, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disapproval. Sharing the video, he wrote, “Who is this scumbag?” His post quickly garnered attention and reactions from fans and the film fraternity alike.

Who is this scumbag? https://t.co/KUVZjMZY2M
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) May 29, 2024

In response to Hansal's comment, a social media user defended Balakrishna, emphasizing his stature and legacy in the Telugu film industry. The user highlighted Balakrishna's deep-rooted connections, being the son of legendary actor-politician Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR) and the uncle of popular actor Jr. NTR. They argued that Balakrishna and Anjali share a camaraderie, and his action might have been misinterpreted due to their off-screen bond.

However, Hansal Mehta was undeterred by this defense. He reposted the user’s message with a sharp retort, writing, “Scumbag x100.”

Scumbag x100 https://t.co/80rncwYwOC
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) May 30, 2024

Present on stage during the incident were Anjali's co-stars Vishwak Sen and Neha Shetty. Neha’s visible shock contrasted with Anjali’s attempt to diffuse the tension by laughing off the gesture, though it remains unclear what Balakrishna said to her before pushing her away.

Balakrishna has not issued a public statement regarding the incident. He is currently gearing up for a collaboration with director Boyapati Srinu on the sequel Akhanda 2.

On the other hand, Hansal Mehta continues to focus on his international project Gandhi.