When the city police recently busted a chain of drug rackets, the involvement of Tollywood celebs in drugs unearthed, and it became quite a big nuisance for about a month. Even before Tollywood could come out of that shock, names of Telugu film and TV actors have allegedly surfaced in the recently busted prostitution scandal in the city massage parlors and spas.

Hyderabad police have recently cracked down on spas and massage parlors which had been running brothel houses in commercial and residential areas under the guise of massage centres. Although girls from Thailand and Northeast states were found to have been involved in the flesh trade in the raided parlors, reports are slowly emerging that a few Telugu film and TV actresses are also involved in this ring.

Dasari Siddharth, 32, who was identified as the kingpin behind this prostitution racket, has reportedly divulged the names of two prominent Tollywood actresses and a few other character artistes, when he was pressed by police during the interrogation. As per his alleged revelations, actresses cater only to VIP customers. Police are said to be planning to serve notices to the two actresses for investigation purpose.

Spyder has been on the floors for longtime. Perhaps this is Mahesh’s long-delayed movie in the recent times. In fact, Mahesh had joined the film’s shoot right after Brahmotsavam. Yet the film is yet to complete its shoot. As the film is all set for release on September 27 – hardly a month from now, A song shoot is still pending.

Ask director AR Murugudoss about the long-delay. The auteur of films such as Tagore, Gajini clarifies, “The set up for Spyder is so huge and vast. Since it is a Telugu-Tamil bilingual, we took special care and made sure that each and every shot in Telugu and Tamil are different. Usually, in bilingual, things move at a slow pace. Since the film also has a lot of action and special effects involved, the post-production works needed more time. The works have been going on simultaneously in various countries and all these are taking a lot of time since we are not compromising on quality at all. Only one song is balance and the rest has been completed.”

Murugudoss add that making a bilingual film takes a lot of effort, time and it is not a “joke”. Murugudoss reiterates that the film is strictly a Telugu-Tamil bilingual but not for Hindi. “Although, the film’s story has universal appeal and can be made in Hindi, but right from the day we wrote the story, we have been keen on making in Telugu-Tamil alone. Making a bilingual itself is a Herculean task.“

Although it is a Telugu-Tamil bilingual, the film is going to be set in Hyderabad and this is common for the Tamil version as well. Murugudoss says that he has made a lot of changes in the last-minute to convince audience of all types.

After Spyder, Murugudoss is going to take a break for 4 months and he will start his next with Superstar Rajinikanth. Apparently, he narrated an impressive script to Rajini who immensely liked it and given the nod. However, it will not be a bilingual and will be a strictly Tamil film.

In a recent interview, Rakul Preet Singh divulged about why she had called Sai Pallavi, the current sensation in Tollywood, at very late night on the day she had watched ‘Fidaa’.

‘After watching Fidaa, I fell in love with Sai Pallavi’s performance. I was so overwhelmed that I didn’t mind calling her at very late night to congratulate and appreciate her,’ Rakul reportedly revealed.

Pallavi too affirmed the nice gesture of Rakul. ‘I was tensed at first to have received the call at night but she grounded me with her nice words,’ said the ‘Fidaa’ beauty about Rakul.

Actually, Rakul had similarly appreciated Nivetha Thomas after watching ‘Ninnu Kori’. Rakul revealed all this when she was asked if she was insecure of the rise of the likes of Pallavi, Nivetha etc.

‘There are variety of films and equally variety of characters are being written, and makers will choose only those actresses who fit the bill. There is no need to feel insecure or jealous of others’ success as there is scope for all talented performers to succeed in Tollywood,’ she added.

As we have revealed earlier, makers of Megastar Chiranjeevi’s 151st film have officially announced the film’s title as ‘Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy’. This biopic on Telugu freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is being projected as the unsung story of India’s first freedom fighter.

Besides the title and impressive title logo, the stellar cast and crew of this magnum opus has also been revealed on the eve of Megastar’s birthday.

Bollywood Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Jagapathi Babu, Kannada star hero and a well known actor to Telugu people, Kiccha Sudeep, Rising Tamil star hero Vijay Sethupathi and Lady Superstar of South Indian cinema, Nayanthara are playing crucial roles in the film.

If the actors of Sye Raa are all stalwarts, the Technicians are no less popular either. Double-Oscar award winning composer AR Rahamn, Renowned cinematographer Ravi Varman (Cheliyaa, Aparichithudu, Dasavatharam, 7th Sense etc. are just a few of his visual wonders) and noted art director Rajeevan (Manam, Nenokkadine etc.) are working on this magnum opus besides director Surender Reddy.

The presence of Sr Bachchan and AR Rahman can attract the attention of Bollywood towards this Telugu biggie. Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi and Sudeep can turn the heads of Tamil and Kannada film industries. Makers have promised to include many more renowned actors and technicians to breath life into this story of Uyyalawada, an unsung Telugu hero of British era.

There is no clarity on whether the makers keep the same title for all versions, especially Hindi.

Megastar Chiranjeevi is celebrating his birthday and the movie’s motion poster will be launched through a grand event today. There are strong rumours that Nayanthara has been locked to play the female lead in the movie.

The makers however wanted to make things official through the event and did not respond about the cast and crew. Nayanthara recently joined the sets of Balakrishna’s movie and she is busy shooting for the film in Ramoji Film City.

The latest news doing rounds is that the actress will make it to the event if she has been finalized to play the female lead in the film. The unit of Balakrishna’s film too will not be bothered if the actress makes her presence for the event.

This event will take place at 11.30 AM and Rajamouli will unveil the motion poster. The entire cast and crew will be out during the event. We have to wait and see if Nayanthara has been finalized to romance Megastar in his next film.