Nandamuri Balakrishna, a prominent yet controversial figure in the Telugu film industry, has often been in the spotlight for reasons beyond his acting career. His history includes accusations of attempted murder, incidents of slapping fans, and making derogatory remarks. It came as a surprise to many when he was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan, prompting questions about why such a prestigious honour was conferred upon him.&nbsp;Balakrishna is the son of legendary Telugu actor N. T. Rama Rao and has served as an elected member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Hindupuram constituency since 2014.
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<h2>Netizens react</h2>
Balakrishna&rsquo;s controversial past has once again become a topic of discussion following the announcement of the Padma Bhushan.
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Kolatas celebrating, as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Balayya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Balayya</a> won <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PadmaShri?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PadmaShri</a> for non Karnataka win😂<a href="https://t.co/NV9S96g836">pic.twitter.com/NV9S96g836</a> <a href="https://t.co/KwHWeYPBZ7">https://t.co/KwHWeYPBZ7</a>
&mdash; Lokesh. L (@loki_rocki) <a href="https://twitter.com/loki_rocki/status/1883233399445582103?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote>

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One more reason y mental Balayya should not have been conferred Padma Bhushan .. His derogatory comments about Bharat Ratna ..shame on him .. 💦😡 <a href="https://t.co/n8fw6mXKNb">pic.twitter.com/n8fw6mXKNb</a>
&mdash; prasanthi ,మోదీ గారి కుటుంబం (@prasantianunenu) <a href="https://twitter.com/prasantianunenu/status/1883413103314137320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2025</a></blockquote>

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Downfall Of Padma Award !! Starting with L. K Advani and touching <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SadhviRithambara?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SadhviRithambara</a> now this guy 👇 Telugu Star Nandamuri Balakrishna given <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PadmaBhushan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PadmaBhushan</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay2025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PadmaBhushanNBK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PadmaBhushanNBK</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B8?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#गणतंत्र_दिवस</a> <a href="https://t.co/o3F2usBsPc">pic.twitter.com/o3F2usBsPc</a>
&mdash; তন্ময় l T͞anmoy l (@tanmoyofc) <a href="https://twitter.com/tanmoyofc/status/1883732382806863931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote>

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Balayya is perhaps the worst Telugu actor we know on and off camera. Typical misogynist. Shame on Padma Awards Panel/Jury to have even considered him in the first place.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PadmaAwards2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PadmaAwards2025</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/balayya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#balayya</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Balakrishna?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Balakrishna</a> <a href="https://t.co/KGnjvkJR3B">https://t.co/KGnjvkJR3B</a>
&mdash; Chinmay (@justsayingit100) <a href="https://twitter.com/justsayingit100/status/1884185031742218540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2025</a></blockquote>

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PadmaAwards2025?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PadmaAwards2025</a> is awarded for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Balayya?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Balayya</a> for this kinda service to indian cinema. P.S. he is BJP-TDP MLA too <a href="https://t.co/LFhLd0ZA4l">pic.twitter.com/LFhLd0ZA4l</a>
&mdash; Insane Joe 🦭 (@Rakkasa007) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rakkasa007/status/1883203117011108247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote>

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<h2>Balakrishna&rsquo;s biggest controversies</h2>
2004: Shooting incident In 2004, Balakrishna shot filmmaker Bellamkonda Suresh and his associate Satyanarayana Chowdhary with a revolver. He claimed the act was in self-defence. While he was charged with attempted murder, the case was dismissed by the court due to insufficient evidence.
2016: Derogatory remarks about women In 2016, Balakrishna sparked outrage during a TV interview when he made crude and derogatory comments about women. The following day, the Telugu Desam Party issued a statement saying, &ldquo;Balakrishna regrets his remarks and apologises if they hurt the feelings of any section. He made those remarks as part of the fun (during the movie function) and did not aim at anyone. He also said that he inherited the culture of respecting women from his father, N. T. Rama Rao.&rdquo;
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2018: On-set incident A video from the sets of his 2018 film Jai Simha showed Balakrishna hitting an assistant on the head and ordering him to either clean his shoes or tie his laces. While the video received backlash online, the incident was quickly forgotten.
2024: Stage shoving incident In 2024, Balakrishna was caught on camera shoving actress Anjali during a promotional event for her film Gangs of Godavari. The actor berated her on stage for being in his way. While there was a lot of online criticism, the backlash subsided after Anjali made a statement thanking him for attending the event.
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 have shared a great friendship for a long time. It was wonderful to share the stage with him again.&rdquo; Her post played down the incident, and the controversy quickly faded.
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Entertainment: Nandamuri Balakrishna's Padma Bhushan award has sparked debate among netizens, questioning the decision due to his controversial reputation.

Nandamuri Balakrishna, a prominent yet controversial figure in the Telugu film industry, has often been in the spotlight for reasons beyond his acting career. His history includes accusations of attempted murder, incidents of slapping fans, and making derogatory remarks. It came as a surprise to many when he was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan, prompting questions about why such a prestigious honour was conferred upon him. Balakrishna is the son of legendary Telugu actor N. T. Rama Rao and has served as an elected member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly from the Hindupuram constituency since 2014. Also Read: 'There is absolutely zero CG': Gunn addresses 'Bad' CGI criticism for Superman TV spot Netizens react Balakrishna’s controversial past has once again become a topic of discussion following the announcement of the Padma Bhushan. Kolatas celebrating, as #Balayya won #PadmaShri for non Karnataka win😂pic.twitter.com/NV9S96g836 https://t.co/KwHWeYPBZ7 — Lokesh. L (@loki_rocki) January 25, 2025 One more reason y mental Balayya should not have been conferred Padma Bhushan .. His derogatory comments about Bharat Ratna ..shame on him .. 💦😡 pic.twitter.com/n8fw6mXKNb — prasanthi ,మోదీ గారి కుటుంబం (@prasantianunenu) January 26, 2025 Downfall Of Padma Award !! Starting with L. K Advani and touching #SadhviRithambara now this guy 👇 Telugu Star Nandamuri Balakrishna given #PadmaBhushan.#RepublicDay #RepublicDay2025 #PadmaBhushanNBK #गणतंत्र_दिवस pic.twitter.com/o3F2usBsPc — তন্ময় l T͞anmoy l (@tanmoyofc) January 27, 2025 Balayya is perhaps the worst Telugu actor we know on and off camera. Typical misogynist. Shame on Padma Awards Panel/Jury to have even considered him in the first place.#PadmaAwards2025 #balayya #Balakrishna https://t.co/KGnjvkJR3B — Chinmay (@justsayingit100) January 28, 2025 #PadmaAwards2025 is awarded for #Balayya for this kinda service to indian cinema. P.S. he is BJP-TDP MLA too pic.twitter.com/LFhLd0ZA4l — Insane Joe 🦭 (@Rakkasa007) January 25, 2025 Also Read: The Night Agent: Season 3 of Netflix's spy thriller maybe out sooner than expected Balakrishna’s biggest controversies 2004: Shooting incident In 2004, Balakrishna shot filmmaker Bellamkonda Suresh and his associate Satyanarayana Chowdhary with a revolver. He claimed the act was in self-defence. While he was charged with attempted murder, the case was dismissed by the court due to insufficient evidence. 2016: Derogatory remarks about women In 2016, Balakrishna sparked outrage during a TV interview when he made crude and derogatory comments about women. The following day, the Telugu Desam Party issued a statement saying, “Balakrishna regrets his remarks and apologises if they hurt the feelings of any section. He made those remarks as part of the fun (during the movie function) and did not aim at anyone. He also said that he inherited the culture of respecting women from his father, N. T. Rama Rao.” Also Read: X-Men Reboot: Marvel rumoured to have started Gambit casting process 2018: On-set incident A video from the sets of his 2018 film Jai Simha showed Balakrishna hitting an assistant on the head and ordering him to either clean his shoes or tie his laces. While the video received backlash online, the incident was quickly forgotten. 2024: Stage shoving incident In 2024, Balakrishna was caught on camera shoving actress Anjali during a promotional event for her film Gangs of Godavari. The actor berated her on stage for being in his way. While there was a lot of online criticism, the backlash subsided after Anjali made a statement thanking him for attending the event. 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 have shared a great friendship for a long time. It was wonderful to share the stage with him again.” Her post played down the incident, and the controversy quickly faded. Also Read: “I don't tell anybody where I live": Suits star Gabriel Macht keeps personal life under wraps

Padma Bhushan for Nandamuri Balakrishna:  Netizens raise questions on actor's past misconduct

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Padma Bhushan for Nandamuri Balakrishna: Netizens raise questions on actor's past misconduct