With films of two extremely popular Tollywood actors Chiranjeevi and Nandamuri Balakrishna slated to release during Sankaranti, the Andhra police are worried about escalating tension between the fans of the actors.
Speaking at a programme, DGP Sambasiva Rao said, "Fans should stay in their limits. A film should be watched and enjoyed, and are not screened to create a ruckus."
Media reports also quote him as saying, "If fans resort to hate-mongering, especially on social media, by speaking ill of other actors, then we will take strict action against them."
He is also reported to have said that if anybody tried to instigate violence by damaging hoardings and banners, it would attract stringent action.
The DGP stated that the police would beef up security outside all theatres during the release of the two films, to avoid any untoward incidents.
While Chiranjeevi's film Khaidi No 150 is due for release on January 11, TDP MLA and NT Rama Rao's son, Balakrishna's film Gautamiputra Satakarni, will release on January 12.
Fan clubs in the two Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra are known for their 'rivalry', especially when two heroes have films released close together.
In August last year, a week before the release of NTR's Janatha Garage, fans of the actor stabbed a Pawan Kalyan fan, for allegedly taking potshots at the former.
On many occasions in the past, fan club members of different stars have clashed with each other, resulting in injuries, exposing the ugly side of Tollywood.
Caste and politics have also made their way into the fandom.