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Producer Sreenivasa Kumar, aka SKN, faced backlash for joking about supporting non-Telugu-speaking actresses at Dragon’s pre-release event. He clarified it was misunderstood.
Producer SKN’s recent comment regarding support for non-Telugu-speaking actresses has stirred significant controversy.
During the pre-release event for the film Dragon in Hyderabad, Sreenivasa Kumar, widely known as SKN, made a remark while introducing actress Kayadu Lohar that ignited intense debate. His comment, made in jest about his preference for non-Telugu-speaking actresses over their Telugu-speaking counterparts, quickly attracted criticism. In response to the backlash, SKN took to social media to assert that his words were intended humorously and had been misinterpreted.
While welcoming Kayadu Lohar at the event, SKN stated, “Welcome to Telugu. We encourage non-Telugu-speaking heroines rather than Telugu-speaking heroines. I learned what happens if we encourage Telugu-speaking girls as heroines. So, me and my cult director Sai Rajesh decided to support only non-Telugu-speaking heroines.”
His comments led to speculation that he was indirectly referencing actor Vaishnavi Chaitanya, particularly since he also mentioned director Sai Rajesh during his speech. Although SKN delivered the remark with a smile, many interpreted it as a veiled critique of the Baby star, causing the clips from the event to go viral on social media.
To address the growing controversy, SKN issued a video message on social media. He remarked in Telugu, “Ha ha ha these days people are more interested in controversy than entertainment. What to do?”
In his post, SKN emphasized, “I am proud to be one of the few producers who have brought many talented Telugu actresses into the industry. The lighthearted comment I made recently was taken out of context and resulted in unnecessary headlines with inaccurate interpretations. To clarify, I have introduced eight talented individuals to the industry and I am prepared to introduce 25 more talented Telugu girls across various cinematic fields through my upcoming projects. Supporting and promoting Telugu talent has always been my priority, so I kindly ask against the spread of misinformation.”
Hi everyone, Namaste. I am one of the few producers who have introduced many Telugu actresses to the industry. A lighthearted comment I made recently was misunderstood, leading to unnecessary headlines with incorrect meanings. To clarify, I have introduced 8 talented individuals… pic.twitter.com/raWN8Suvpk
— SKN (Sreenivasa Kumar) (@SKNonline) February 18, 2025
Returning to the film Dragon, it is directed by Ashwath Marimuthu and produced by AGS Entertainment. This Tamil coming-of-age comedy-drama features actors Pradeep Ranganathan, Anupama Parameswaran, Kayadu Lohar, along with Gautham Vasudev Menon, KS Ravikumar, and George Maryan. Dragon is scheduled for a theatrical release on February 21.
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