Patch up or mere photo op?

That friendships and rivalries are never permanent emotional tidings is commonplace. This comes forth startlingly in our Telugu cinema industry where the best of friends turn sworn enmeies within hours for inexplicable reasons. The subsequent change of heart also comes about just as fast! Hans Talkies looks into a few recent relationships that turned sour over a period time and later turned into ‘the good old pal’ equation courtesy duty calls.

Kona Venkat-Sreenu Vaitla

After working together in more than half a dozen successful films, their friendship went for a toss. While it isn’t known if it was a clash of egos or the fact that Vaitla undermined Kona, either way, things had turned so bad that Kona had promised never to team up with the director again. It all happened during ‘Baadshah’. The first poster of the film didn’t see the writer’s name on it and when asked he said it was the designer’s error.

Several such instances kept cropping up and finally in an interview, the writer summarised with a dialogue from ‘Dookudu’ – “Mammalini vadukondi. Upayoginchukondi. Kani vadukoni vadileyakandi (Use us but don’t leave us after doing so)”. They finally did bury the hatchet – or at least showed that they did – on the behest of Ram Charan. Kona Venkat said that he decided to put it all in the past to work for Cherry’s next. “He convinced us by saying that personal differences aren’t bigger than the industry and that if the film clicks, it will make millions happy,” he said.

Kona Venkat-Raj Kiran

Raj Kiran, the director of ‘Geethanjali’ was unhappy about being sidelined during the promotions of the film which was promoted more of as a Kona Venkat venture. He decided to stay away from the writer after the film released. However, they teamed up again for ‘Tripura’, starring Swathi, much to the surprise of industrywallahs. According to a source, Kona himself offered to be the screenplay writer of the film.

“Apparently Kona was moved when he heard the story of ‘Tripura’ from Rao Ramesh who played a key role in ‘Geethanjali’. He straightaway rang Raj Kiran and expressed his interest to be a part of the project. “The source adds that Raj Kiran too decided to join forces with Kona as it would be in the best interest of the film getting the required mileage.

Their feud last year made headlines. There were accusations and rebuttals. The duo has worked together several times but saw their friendship face rough waters during the filming of ‘Aagadu’. It was alleged that Prakash Raj was ‘thrown out’ due to his unprofessionalism.

The actor, however, rubbished the claims and said he opted out due to ‘creative differences’ and that Sreenu Vaitla was ‘okay’ with it. In the end, it turned ugly and it became evident that they were friends no more. Interestingly, nearly a year later, the two posed all happy and cheerful as Vaitla indulged in some fun at the birthday celebrations of the actor.

A source in the know tells us that all this is merely for the cameras. “In reality, the differences between them haven’t been sorted out and they are still maintaining the same distance. Even Prakash Raj was pleasantly surprised when Vaitla dropped by his birthday celebrations.”

By Pranita Jonnalagedda