Hyderabad, January 21: Telangana Bhavan, the other day, resembled a setting for a mega-block buster by SS Rajamouli.
Standing in front was TRS honcho K Chandrasekhar Rao, shooting for Jai Bolo Telangana – a film on Telangana movement. But there was something amiss. Film actress-turned-Medak MP Vijayashanti was nowhere around. If a film shooting takes place at a place like Telangana Bhavan, Vijayashanti should be there as she was a film actrress first and politician later. Further, she is identified as Ramulamma for her role in Ose Ramulamma.
But why?
When ENS made inquiries, Vijayashanthi’s aides said they were not aware of film shooting taking place in Telangana Bhavan. Asked how the TRS could keep her out from a film which is being promoted by the party itself, they said they have no idea and added: “We have our own projects not to bother about Jai Bolo Telangana,” her aide said.
The very fact that Vijayashanti has been kept away made one wonder whether it was signaling the growing chasm between the two leaders. As acting comes as second nature for Vijayashanti, there could be no better choice for a suitable role in the film for her. And yet she was not part of the project.
The film is being made by N Shankar with music score by Chakri. Though the lead role is played by Jagapathi Babu, the other reel roles are being done by real life Telangana movement leaders.
Besides KCR, who incidentally composed a song for the film, there will be his daughter Kavitha – remember her ‘koti Batukammala Jatara’!
The film is being actively promoted by the TRS. At the state executive meeting yesterday, the TRS chief gave a call to people of the region to make the film a hit as it would help Telangana agitation.
If such is the case, why sideline Vijayashanti, who should be the hot favourite for an important role in the film.
The TRS sources say that she was not considered because she was an actress in the past.
“Her background as an actress might weaken the theme since we wanted only real life heroes in the film,” the TRS source said, adding anyway that she has other projects like Rani Rudrama Devi.
Her films too would help the Telangana cause and it is not proper to say that she was sidelined deliberately, the TRS leader added.
–Agencies