కవిత రాజీనామా ఆమోదం | Kavitha Resignation Accepted by Council Chairman
The Raja Saab Faces ₹400 Cr Box-Office Test
Pan-India superstar Prabhas’ romantic horror-comedy The Raja Saab is gearing up for a grand theatrical release on January 9, and the film has already begun generating strong buzz among fans as well as trade circles.
Directed by Maruthi, the film is said to have been made on a massive budget exceeding ₹300 crore, reportedly higher than what was initially planned. This scale and Prabhas’ market pull have helped The Raja Saab create solid pre-release momentum.
Although the complete pre-release business figures are yet to be officially revealed, early indicators suggest that the film will need to post massive box-office numbers to emerge as a commercial success.
According to trade estimates, The Raja Saab must gross over ₹400 crore worldwide to be declared a hit. In the Telugu states alone, the film is expected to collect close to ₹300 crore gross to break even.
As with most Prabhas projects, the Hindi version is expected to play a decisive role in the film’s overall recovery. Prabhas has consistently delivered strong box-office results in the Hindi belt over the years, and similar expectations are riding on this film as well.
Over the past decade, Prabhas’ films have posted impressive numbers at the box office, often performing well irrespective of critical reception. Despite the rising stakes and escalating budgets, Prabhas continues to be viewed as a box-office guarantee, making his films a relatively safe bet for producers.
West Godavari Couple Killed in US Road Accident
A couple from West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh tragically lost their lives in a road accident in the United States. Krishna Kishore Kotikalapudi (50) and his wife Appana Venkata Asha (48) were killed in a head-on collision on Interstate 95 (I-95) near Charlotte, Maryland.
The accident occurred when an SUV travelling in the wrong direction crashed into the minivan driven by Kishore. The family was returning to their home in Virginia after their flight, originally scheduled to land at Washington’s Dulles International Airport, was diverted to New York due to adverse weather conditions.
At the time of the crash, which took place around 2.45 am local time, Kishore was behind the wheel, with Asha seated in the front passenger seat. Their two children—a 23-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son—were seated in the rear. While Kishore died on the spot, Asha was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
The children survived the horrific crash but sustained injuries and were immediately shifted to a trauma centre for treatment.
Kishore hailed from Palakollu in West Godavari district. Family members told Deccan Chronicle that the couple and their children had returned to the United States just ten days ago after visiting India.
Police stated that the SUV driver, who is suspected to have been mentally or physically unfit to drive, was unharmed and remained at the scene. Authorities added that charges may be filed after the completion of the investigation and in consultation with the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Stars Skip Media Meets Ahead of Sankranthi Releases
With one big-budget film after another lining up for the Sankranthi festival season, the stakes are clearly high. Remunerations have already touched massive figures—that itself is a separate debate. But what is drawing equal attention is the noticeable absence of star heroes from media promotions.
Surprisingly, not a single top hero has conducted a proper media interaction so far. The commonly cited reason is the fear of “uncomfortable questions.” However, the bigger concern seems to be the lack of clear, prepared answers if such questions are raised.
What makes this situation more intriguing is the contrast in approach. The very same stars are seen openly sharing even personal details when interacting with Bollywood media or press from other language industries. Of course, it is their personal choice—but the selective silence before Telugu media is hard to ignore.
Take The Raja Saab, one of the major Sankranthi releases. Despite the buzz around the film, Prabhas has not faced the media even once. Apart from attending the pre-release event, he only gave a single interview—and that too with director Sandeep Vanga. Beyond this, there has been no direct media interaction.
A similar scenario surrounds Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Shankar Prasad. Though he is expected to grace the pre-release event, he has stayed away from media meets so far. The producers did organize a press interaction, but the Megastar did not attend. The film is being promoted as a fun-filled entertainer, and Venkatesh plays a key role, yet even he has not interacted with the media.
Ravi Teja’s Bharta Mahashayulu follows the same pattern. Known for generally avoiding media interactions, Ravi Teja has maintained the same stance for this film as well.
With promotions becoming increasingly event-centric and media interactions shrinking, the question remains—are stars distancing themselves from accountability, or is this the new promotional strategy for big-ticket festival releases?
US Expands Visa Bond Rule to 13 Countries, Mostly in Africa
The Trump administration has expanded a controversial US visa policy by adding seven more countries to a list requiring certain travellers to post a large refundable bond before entering the United States. With the latest update, citizens of 13 countries may now be asked to deposit between $5,000 and $15,000 as part of the visa application process.
According to the US State Department, the newly added countries are Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan. The decision took effect on January 1 and was published on the department’s official travel website. Five of the seven new additions are African nations, further increasing the concentration of African countries impacted by the rule.
These countries join Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Gambia, Malawi and Zambia, which were placed under the bond requirement in August and October last year. US officials say the measure is aimed at tightening immigration controls, discouraging visa overstays, and ensuring compliance with entry conditions.
The State Department has clarified that paying the bond does not guarantee visa approval. If a visa application is denied, the bond is refunded. For approved applicants, the amount is returned once authorities confirm the individual complied with visa terms, including leaving the US on time.
The bond policy is part of broader immigration tightening under the Trump administration. Other recent measures include mandatory in-person visa interviews, expanded disclosure of travel and residence history, and enhanced scrutiny of applicants’ social media activity.
Critics argue that the bond requirement places a heavy financial burden on travellers from lower-income countries, particularly students, tourists, and small business visitors. For many applicants, the upfront cost represents a significant barrier to travel, even before visa processing begins.
Nagarjuna Becomes 2nd Richest Actor in India: 2025 Wealth Rankings
In a surprising turn in India’s celebrity wealth rankings, several veteran Telugu stars have made it into the Top 10 richest actors list. The 2025 wealth report by The Times of India has placed Akkineni Nagarjuna at the second position, a surprising leap for the Telugu superstar. According to the report, Shah Rukh Khan leads the list with an estimated net worth of ₹12,931 crore, followed by Nagarjuna at ₹5,000 crore.
The rankings continue with Salman Khan (₹3,225 Cr), Hrithik Roshan (₹3,100 Cr), Akshay Kumar (₹2,250 Cr), and Aamir Khan (₹1,860 Cr). Another Telugu icon, Chiranjeevi, is positioned at 7th place with ₹1,750 crore, closely followed by Amitabh Bachchan, Venkatesh, and Ram Charan.
Interestingly, Nagarjuna had previously dismissed similar Forbes reports, calling such figures misleading and pointing out that celebrity net worth estimates often rely on incomplete or speculative data. He emphasized that these projections do not always reflect an actor’s true financial standing. Despite his earlier remarks, his No. 2 spot in the latest wealth rankings has come as a surprise, with many now considering that the estimates might indeed hold some truth.
US O-1B Artist Visa Sees Surge in Social Media Influencers
The United States’ O-1B visa—traditionally reserved for artists with extraordinary ability—is increasingly being sought by social media influencers, including creators on platforms like OnlyFans, according to a report by the Financial Times. Immigration lawyers note a sharp rise in influencer applications since the Covid-19 pandemic, with some saying digital creators now make up more than half of their O-1 clientele.
Originally designed for accomplished actors, musicians, and artists, the O-1B visa allows individuals with exceptional talent to work temporarily in the US. Its origins trace back to the 1970s, when musician John Lennon successfully fought deportation after being recognised as an “outstanding person in the arts”—a legal precedent that later shaped the Immigration Act of 1990.
While earlier applicants relied on awards, critical acclaim, or major productions, today’s influencers are using digital metrics to demonstrate merit. High follower counts, strong online earnings, brand partnerships, and promotional campaigns are increasingly accepted as evidence of artistic success—often easier to document than traditional accolades.
Government data shows O-1 visa approvals rose by over 50% between 2014 and 2024, far outpacing overall non-immigrant visa growth. Still, the category remains relatively small, with fewer than 20,000 O-1 visas issued in 2024 compared to over 100,000 H-1B visas.
Experts caution that this trend may redefine how artistic merit is assessed, potentially disadvantaging talented individuals without a strong social media presence. As digital platforms continue to reshape creative careers, the O-1B visa is evolving into a gateway not just for traditional artists, but for a new generation of online creators—signalling a broader shift in what qualifies as “extraordinary” in the arts.
Sakshi Vaidya Clarifies Exit from Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh
Heroine Sakshi Vaidya, who gained popularity through several TV commercials, made her Tollywood debut with Akhil’s Agent and later appeared in Varun Tej’s Gandeevadhari Arjuna. She is now gearing up for the release of her latest film, Nari Nari Naduma Murari, in which she stars opposite Sharwanand. The film is slated to hit theatres on January 14th.
During the promotional interviews for the film, Sakshi addressed a widely circulated rumour that had sparked speculation about her career. It was being reported that the underperformance of Agent and Gandeevadhari Arjuna led the makers of Pawan Kalyan’s Ustaad Bhagat Singh to drop her from the female lead role. The actress, however, firmly dismissed these claims.
Clarifying the situation, Sakshi said, “The team of Ustaad Bhagat Singh did offer me the role. However, when they called me for the shoot, I had a family emergency that required me to travel out of town. Due to this situation, I couldn’t adjust my dates and had to let go of the opportunity to act opposite a stalwart like Pawan Kalyan.” She emphasized that her exit from the project was purely due to scheduling constraints and not because of any other reason.
Directed by Harish Shankar, Ustaad Bhagat Singh now features Sreeleela and Raashi Khanna as the female leads. Meanwhile, Sakshi Vaidya is hopeful that the success of Nari Nari Naduma Murari will mark a turning point in her career and open up new opportunities in the Telugu film industry.
MSVP Promises a Grand Sankranti Feast: Producers Confident
Megastar Chiranjeevi is all set to deliver wholesome entertainment alongside Victory Venkatesh in the much-awaited film Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, directed by Anil Ravipudi.
Producers Sahu Garapati and Sushmita Konidela are highly confident about the film’s outcome and are optimistic that it will emerge as a big winner this Sankranti season.
Addressing concerns about competition and theatre allocation, producer Sahu Garapati clarified that screen availability is not a major issue. “We have running distributors, and our film already has a prior slot for Sankranti. It is common for theatres to be divided when multiple films release, but for our movie, theatre availability won’t be a problem,” he said.
Calling the project a milestone in her career, Sushmita Konidela expressed her excitement. “It is an honour to be part of this film. Working in my father’s core genre, with Anil Ravipudi handling it so brilliantly, has been a wonderful experience. The journey with Sahu Garapati was beautiful and extremely enjoyable. I hope this successful combination continues in the future,” she shared.
The producers further revealed that the trailer only offers a small glimpse of what the film truly has in store. “Chiranjeevi’s role is packed with all the commercial elements—fun, action, and emotions. The comedy sequences between Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh are a major highlight. What you see in the trailer is just a sample; the film has much more to offer. Calling it a Sankranti feast would actually be an understatement,” they said.
Reassuring audiences, the makers stated that Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu delivers exactly the kind of entertainment expected from the powerful combination of Chiranjeevi and Anil Ravipudi.
Riddhi Kumar Reveals Prabhas’ Warm Hospitality on Sets
Actress Riddhi Kumar recently shared a delightful and heartwarming anecdote from the sets of a Prabhas film, offering fans a glimpse into the superstar’s widely admired hospitality. Speaking about her experience, Riddhi humorously remarked that anyone working on Prabhas’ sets should come prepared with a yoga mat, as the abundance and richness of food served with love and respect can easily lead to noticeable weight gain.
According to the actress, the atmosphere on Prabhas’ sets goes beyond professionalism, radiating warmth and inclusivity. She highlighted how Prabhas personally ensures that everyone on the team — from co-actors to technicians — is treated with care and affection, especially when it comes to meals. The food, she said, is not only plentiful and delicious but also served with genuine warmth, reflecting the actor’s down-to-earth and generous nature.
Riddhi Kumar’s comments quickly caught the attention of fans on social media, further reinforcing Prabhas’ reputation as one of the most humble and kind-hearted stars in Indian cinema. Over the years, many actors and crew members have spoken about his generosity, and this light-hearted anecdote adds yet another charming layer to his off-screen persona. Beyond his on-screen charisma, it is these personal gestures and moments of warmth that continue to endear Prabhas to colleagues and audiences alike.
