Actor Anjali says she shares a 'great friendship' with Balakrishna after 'pushing incident' goes viral

Telugu superstar Balakrishna aka Balayya stirredcontroversy on Thursday (May 30) after a video of him went viralshowing him pushing actress Anjalion stage at an event to promote the movie Gangs of Godavari. Within a fewhours, the clip went viral on social media, with netizens criticising the veteran actor's disrespectful action.

A day after the video took the internet by storm, actor Anjali has broken her silence, thanking Balakrishna for gracing the event with his presence.

Taking to X, actor Anjali shared a montage video in which they couldbeseen laughing and chatting during the event.

In the caption, the actress tried to silence all the trolls as she wrote, "I want to thank Balakrishna Garu for gracing the Gangs of Godavari pre-release event with his presence. I would like to express that Balakrishna garu and I have always maintained mutual respect for each other and we share a great friendship from a long time. It was wonderful to share the stage with him again."

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Anjali's post didn't sitwell withnetizens andmany slammed her for defending the actor.

I want to thank Balakrishna Garu for gracing the Gangs of Godavari pre-release event with his presence.

I would like to express that Balakrishna garu and I have always maintained mutual respect for eachother and We share a great friendship from a long time. It was wonderful to… pic.twitter.com/mMOOqGcch2 — Anjali (@yoursanjali) May 30, 2024

One user wrote, ''Too late to defend him now.''

Another wrote, ''Forced tweet! 😂 that’s okay it’s ur choice!! But deep down inside uk what happened !😌.''

Forced tweet! 😂 that’s okay it’s ur choice!! But deep down inside uk what happened !😌 — freak out (@freaksoul123) May 30, 2024

''Like this message if u were forced to tweet this..!!'' added another.

Too late to tweet this now! — Vikram Kohli (@TheMostViolent_) May 30, 2024

What happened at the event

Balakrishna was a chief guest for Anjali's film Gangs of Godavari. Directed by Krishna Chaitanya, the movie also stars Vishwak Sen and Neha Shetty.

Theviral video showed actor Balakrishna walking on stage, which was packed with the team of the movie. As the actorreaches the centre of the stage, he can be seen telling actors Neha Shetty and Anjali to step aside, before he shockingly shovedAnjali, whoalmost fell.

However, Anjali quickly did damage control of the awkward situation as she started tolaughalong with Neha and other people present on the stage.

Watch the video below:

Who is this scumbag? https://t.co/KUVZjMZY2M — Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) May 29, 2024

After the clip went viral, many celebrities and netizens slammed Balakrishna for his action.

Reacting to the video, singer Chinmayi Sripaada wrote on X, "One of the biggest problems that I notice from people sharing this 'Look at her laughing. She should have _____' 1. It is NOT possible to respond according to your spectator response as you watch this on your device. This most moral policing, holier than thou - pure as driven snow - Harishchandra /Sri Ramachandramoorthy or their relative incarnates will fail to understand."

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Filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared the clip and wrote, ''Who is this scumbag?''

Actor Nakuul Mehta wrote, "Not one person expressed their discomfort. Not one. Ridiculous behaviour by the gent."