Fans of actor and Hindupur, TDP MLA Balakrishna are masochists who yearn to be assaulted. At least, that’s what director Puri Jagannadh would like you to believe.
On Thursday, visuals of actor and Hindupur TDP MLA Balakrishna, slapping a fan who tried to garland him went viral, provoking outrage. This was the second such incident to come to light, following one on August 4, in which Balakrishna had assaulted an Assistant Director on a film set and forced him to remove his shoes and carry them.
While there has been no shortage of Balakrishna fans trying to build a defence for the slap, the most bizarre explanation has come from popular director Puri Jagannadh.
According to Puri Jagannadh, it is a love affair between the actor and his fans and we have wasted our breath outraging over the issue.
Incidentally, Puri Jagannadh is waiting for the release of his movie Paisa Vasool starring Balakrishna and Shriya Saran.
Speaking at the audio launch of the movie, the Director said that Balakrishna, popularly known as Balayya, shares a special bond with his fans. Puri went on to say that, “fans enjoy his slaps and whacks”.
“When other heroes go out, they need bouncers. Balayya doesn’t require them. He controls his fans himself. When someone falls on him, he hits them. Those people who get hit feel very happy. The media is saying that he hit people, but what do they know about how much these people yearn for Balakrishna to hit them. He only hits when common sense is in question. Remember this, it’s a relationship that Balakrishna and his fans share. If he hits a fan in future, remember that it is a love story, and don’t take it seriously,” Puri told fans at the event.
Surging with pride, he also added, "He's a nice person, and whether he loves you or is angry with you, he shows it to your face."
Puri also gushed that he had wanted to work with Balakrishna for many years now, and he regrets not having had the opportunity previously.
There has been no shortage of controversies surrounding Balakrishna. Besides the two incidents of assault, Balakrishna has also made very controversial misogynistic statements too. Last year, he justified valourising sexual harassment on screen by saying, “If I play eve-teasing roles, and just follow girls, my fans will not accept. Either a kiss should be given or they should be made pregnant.”
He also added, “I too act naughty with the actresses... I pinch them sometimes.”
On Thursday, Balakrishna courted controversy on the political front too, after videos emerged that showed the actor-politician allegedly distributing money to voters while on the TDP campaign trail for the Nandyal bye-polls.