Congress MLA calls for regular drug tests on actors
Anirudh Reddy questions Censor Board on alcohol portrayal in films
Hyderabad: Jadcherla Congress MLA Janampalli Anirudh Reddy on Tuesday stirred controversy by calling for strict drug-testing norms for film actors, including making such tests a precondition for movie releases.
Speaking to the media at the CLP Media Hall, the MLA urged the government to grant permission for film releases only if actors involved have undergone drug tests.
He proposed that actors should be tested every 90 days and that their reports should be made public. Making a strong remark, Anirudh Reddy said that actors who refuse to undergo drug tests should be presumed to be drug users.
He also questioned why authorities, including the Censor Board, were not addressing the portrayal of alcohol consumption in films, despite growing concerns over substance abuse.
Referring to ongoing anti-drug efforts, he mentioned that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had launched “Operation Eagle” to curb drug usage and said he himself had undergone a drug test. He clarified that his comments were not aimed at targeting individuals but at encouraging accountability and responsibility. He expressed his indignation over the trolling he faced when he spoke in the Legislative Assembly regarding Ippapuvvu Sara (liquor distilled from Mahua flowers).
He lashed out at the trolls. He remarked, "When I, as a politician, speak about sara, I get trolled. Yet, in the movie Kushi, Pawan Kalyan acted in a scene where he consumed this very same liquor - and the audience responded with whistles and cheers.
Similarly, when Nandamuri Balakrishna danced to the song 'Mama Ek Peg La' (Uncle, Give Me a Peg), the audience thoroughly enjoyed it." "Yet, when we bring up the subject of Ippa flowers in the context of public health, we are being trolled. This is not the right approach," Anirudh Reddy expressed his anguish.
