Hyderabad, India: Veteran Telugu filmmaker K. Raghavendra Rao has found himself at the center of an online controversy after videos from a recent public film event went viral on social media, reigniting discussions about personal boundaries, consent, and professionalism in the entertainment industry.
One of the widely circulated clips features actress Niharika Konidela, niece of Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi, standing alongside the veteran director during an event. In the video, Rao appears to place his hand around the actress’s waist while speaking with her.
Social media users claimed that Niharika looked visibly uncomfortable and appeared to move away from the gesture, prompting criticism from several viewers who questioned whether her personal space had been respected.
Veteran Telugu filmmaker K. Raghavendra Rao inappropriately touching Actress Niharika ! Is this appropriate? pic.twitter.com/TgoI6dV8qm
— Intelligent India News (@iinewsindia) June 18, 2026
The controversy gained further momentum after another video from the launch event of director Anil Ravipudi’s upcoming film surfaced online. The clips quickly spread across social media platforms, triggering debates about acceptable behavior at public events and the treatment of women in the film industry.
While some users criticized the veteran filmmaker’s actions, others urged caution against drawing conclusions from short video clips without additional context.
Neither Niharika Konidela nor K. Raghavendra Rao had publicly addressed the controversy at the time of writing.
The incident has once again highlighted broader conversations around consent, workplace conduct, and maintaining professional boundaries within the entertainment industry, with many social media users calling for greater sensitivity and respect during public appearances.
