Chiru, Pawan fans upset with Rakta Charitra

Ram Gopal Varma's film Rakta Charitra has run into controversy as it revolves around the rivalry between two south politicos — Paritala Ravi and Maddelacheruvu Suri.

When Ram Gopal Varma started shooting for Rakta Charitra, he must have anticipated that the film would run into controversy. After all, it does revolve around the rivalry between two south politicos — Paritala Ravi and Maddelacheruvu Suri. In fact, Suri is currently in Bangalore Jail for killing the former. And it has happened even before the film’s release.

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In a scene from the movie, Vivek Oberoi, who plays the late Ravi, watches a rebel going through the humiliation of having his head shaved in public. This scene has sparked off much resentment among the public after Varma uploaded a still on a microblogging site.

Fans of south superstars Pawan Kalyan and his elder brother Chiranjeevi have posted angry messages against Varma. They believe that this scene confirms rumours that Ravi had got Kalyan tonsured years ago.

Apparently, when Ravi was alive, Kalyan and he had got into a dispute over a plot of land in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. The actor was roughed up by the Telugu Desam Party minister who had said he’d teach Kalyan a lesson he’d remember for life. A few days later, Kalyan was seen sporting a bald pate. When asked, he maintained dignified silence. Asked if Ravi was responsible, he’d laughed off the query.

After this incident, Kalyan turned into a recluse. Chiranjeevi is said to be really upset with Varma for raking up an old story and is supposedly running him down in his Praja Rajyam Party office. However, Varma wasn’t very forthcoming. "Seems there’s a lot of speculation on this photograph. Tonsuring is a standard practice in matters of humiliation. There is no role of a film actor in Rakta Charitra," was all he was willing to say.