Hyderabad : Actor Kasthuri Shankar, known for her roles in films such as Indian and Annamayya, was arrested by a Chennai police team in Hyderabad’s Gachibowli area. The arrest, confirmed by a TV news report on Saturday evening, follows a backlash over her alleged objectionable remarks about the Telugu community’s lineage during a Hindu Makkal Katchi meeting.
Kasthuri’s remarks suggested that the ancestry of the Telugu community in Tamil Nadu traced back to courtesans who served kings. The controversial statement sparked outrage, with accusations that she had insulted the community and its heritage. She made the comments while addressing the political party DMK at a rally against what she termed as “Brahmin persecution.”
Amid mounting criticism, Kasthuri issued a public apology, stating, “It was never my intention to hurt or offend my Telugu extended family. I withdraw all references to Telugu in my speech.” She added that the controversy had “diverted focus from more important points” she intended to raise. However, her apology did little to quell the anger, as many felt it did not directly address her comments about women.
The backlash led to legal action, and on Thursday, the Madras High Court dismissed Kasthuri’s anticipatory bail plea, paving the way for her arrest. The court noted that her apology was inadequate in addressing the gravity of her remarks.
Reports revealed that Kasthuri had gone into hiding in recent days, with her phone switched off and her whereabouts unknown. Chennai police tracked her down to Hyderabad and took her into custody, subsequently transporting her to Chennai for further legal proceedings.
In response to the backlash, Kasthuri took to her X account (formerly Twitter) to claim that “false news” was being propagated by “Tamil Nadu’s Goebbels and the anti-Hindu DMK network.”
Kasthuri, who debuted in the Tamil film Aatha Un Koyilile in 1991, has acted in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films. Her recent works include the Telugu movie Simbaa and the TV show Seethe Ramudiki Katnam.
The controversy surrounding her remarks continues to dominate headlines, highlighting the sensitivities around cultural identity and heritage.
