Nagarjuna Akkineni's bodyguard pushes a disabled fan on airport, actor apologises on Twitter saying "it won't happen in future"

Nagarajuna Akkineni

Telugu superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni recently found himself at the centre of a social media storm following an incident involving his bodyguards and a fan. The event, which took place at the Mumbai airport, was captured on video and it quickly went viral, drawing widespread criticism from netizens.

This just came to my notice … this shouldn’t have happened!! I apologise to the gentleman and will take necessary precautions that it will not happen in the future !! https://t.co/d8bsIgxfI8

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— Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) June 23, 2024

The incident occurred when a fan attempted to approach Nagarjuna as he walked through a busy area at the airport. The actor, seemingly unaware of the fan’s presence, continued on his way while his bodyguards intervened and roughly pushed the fan away.

The video, which shows the fan being mistreated, sparked a significant backlash online, with many people expressing their disapproval and anger towards Nagarjuna and his security team.

Where has humanity gone? #nagarjunapic.twitter.com/qnPjJngIxM

— Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani77) June 23, 2024

Following the backlash, Nagarjuna took to social media to address the incident. In a heartfelt post, he expressed his regret and apologized to the fan. He acknowledged the incident, stating, "This just came to my notice ... this shouldn’t have happened!! I apologize to the gentleman  and will take necessary precautions that it will not happen in the future !!".

Nagarjuna’s response, however, did little to quell the criticism initially. The actor's apology was seen as a necessary step, but many felt that the incident highlighted a broader issue of how celebrities and their entourages handle fan interactions.

The video of the fan being mistreated served as a poignant reminder of the challenges fans often face when trying to meet their idols.

Nagarjuna Akkineni, a prominent figure in South Indian cinema, particularly in the Telugu film industry, has a massive fan following. Known for his work in critically acclaimed movies like "Gitanjali" and "Ninne Pelladata," which won a National Film Award, and "Annamayya," which received a Special Mention National Film Award, Nagarjuna’s influence extends beyond Telugu cinema, having also acted in Tamil and Hindi films. His long and illustrious career, peaking in the 1990s and early 2000s, has delivered several blockbuster hits such as Killer, President Gari Pellam and Varasudu.

The recent incident, however, cast a shadow on his otherwise celebrated career. Fans and the public at large expressed disappointment not only in the actions of the bodyguards but also in the necessity of such forceful interventions in the first place. The expectation is that celebrities should be accessible to their fans, who are often the backbone of their success.

Nagarjuna’s prompt apology and promise to take necessary precautions were steps in the right direction. He assured his followers that he would ensure such incidents do not happen again, emphasizing his commitment to his fans. This commitment is crucial, given his significant fan base that spans across various regions and languages.

The incident serves as a critical lesson for celebrities and their security details about the importance of balancing security with respect and courtesy towards fans.