Telugu superstar, Allu Arjun, found himself in the limelight after a brand strategist made alleged claims about his '42 dos and don'ts' to meet him.
Allu Arjun has recently been hogging the headlines. However, not for his professional projects but for certain claims that have left the internet abuzz. The Telugu superstar found himself in the middle of a drama when a social media storm alleged that the star has a strict list of 'dos and don'ts'.
Yes! The drama began with brand strategist, Kaveri Baruah, who claimed that the Telugu superstar has a strict list of dos and don'ts when it comes to people meeting him. The strategist appeared on the popular Sweekriti Talks podcast, where she alleged that meeting the actor came with a strict set of "42 dos and don'ts". So, as the internet goes berserk over the list, let's take a look at what exactly happened and how the actor reacted to the allegations.
Kaveri Baruah's statement on the Sweekriti Talks podcast went viral online, trending almost immediately. During the podcast, Kaveri claimed that when it comes to meeting Allu Arjun, the rules are anything but strict. She shared that the "actor's manager's manager's manager" handed them a list of 42 dos and don'ts before they met the Pushpa star. She was quoted as saying:
"Before meeting him, we had a note which had 42 dos and don’ts. And they have a manager’s manager’s manager. They are very strict, like don’t look into sir’s eyes, don’t shake his hand."
The clip soon went viral, with social media users sharing their views on the claims. The buzz was further intensified by social media users and several media outlets, painting Allu Arjun as a 'diva' with an army of managers and impossibly rigid rules. However, fans were left divided, with some calling the claims 'outrageous exaggeration' and others shocked that a superstar could have such protocols.
Soon after the video went viral, the actor's team responded to the claims. While Allu Arjun didn't address the claims directly, his team issued a formal statement. In a long statement, the actor's team called the claims "completely baseless and untrue." Even Allu Arjun's co-stars came forward to defend him, dismissing any suggestion that the actor imposed unusual restrictions on those meeting him. The statement by Allu Arjun's team could be read as:
"Certain recent comments made about Mr Allu Arjun are completely baseless and untrue. He has always conducted himself with the utmost dignity and honour. We take these false allegations seriously. Our legal team is initiating defamation proceedings against those responsible. We request everyone to refrain from spreading unverified information."
While the story continues to spiral, both Kaveri and Sweekriti have issued public apologies. Kaveri took to her X (formerly Twitter) handle and wrote a long note that the statement she made about the actor having '42 dos and don'ts' was untrue. She alleged that they were not based on any verified data or factual material. She added:
"My remarks were made in the flow of conversation and should not have been presented as factual assertions. I sincerely regret making those statements and any misunderstanding or reputational harm they may have caused. I withdraw the remarks in their entirety. I have the utmost respect for Mr Allu Arjun and his body of work, and I regret any inconvenience caused."
Later, the host of Sweekriti Talks, also took to Instagram and removed the podcast episode and the reel that contained Kaveri's statement about Allu Arjun. She further stressed that the episode was intended as an educational discussion of general industry practices, not a personal attack. She added that their intention wasn't meant to "harm, provoke, defame, or make any imputation against any individual, nor to derive any undue advantage at the expense of any person." The podcast further acknowledged its responsibility when publishing such claims and asserted that it "bears responsibility for the consequences of content disseminated from our platform."
Sweekriti further clarified that Kaveri's remarks were made in good faith, without realising they were inaccurate. Nonetheless, all remarks about the actor have been removed from their pages. They added that they didn't mean to cause any misunderstanding. The podcaster concluded by apologising again for the comments and requesting that "people end the harassment of the host and those associated with our channel."
For the unversed, the '42 dos and don'ts' mentioned by Kaveri include bizarre rules such as "don't look into sir's eyes" and "don't shake his hand." While the rumours made content for some juicy gossip, it turns out the list never actuAllu existed. However, what started as a casual conversation escalated into a social media storm, showing how quickly things can spiral when a celebrity's name is involved. Another takeaway from the situation was the importance of accountability. Both the brand strategist and the podcast host issued public apologies, removed the content, and clarified that there was no malice. In an age of instant virality, this is a rare example of responsible correction.
What are your thoughts on Allu Arjun's '42 dos and don'ts' controversy? Let us know.
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