HIGHLIGHTS

It looks like the Movie Artistes Association (MAA) is heading for a split due to clash between the camps of V K Naresh (President of MAA) and Dr Rajasekhar (Executive Vice President) over the last few months.

It looks like the Movie Artistes Association (MAA) is heading for a split due to clash between the camps of V K Naresh (President of MAA) and Dr Rajasekhar (Executive Vice President) over the last few months. On Sunday, the General Body Meeting of the association was virtually split into two factions. “Dr Rajasekhar is gaining ground by earning the support of more members, while Naresh is losing his grip,” says a member of MAA.

Actually, V K Naresh made tall promises before the elections but in the last six months, he has not done any work for the welfare of the members. “Members are looking for an opportunity to replace Naresh but they need to get 2/3rd majority of 800-odd members in the meeting as per the bylaws of the association to remove Naresh,” adds the member.

Apparently, Naresh is opposing to hold general body meeting, while Dr Rajasekhar camp want to hold it in full strength, adds the member. Members allege that Naresh, a popular character actor, is hardly allotting his time to the activities of MAA, while his attitude adding to his woes. The member also claims that the high-handedness of the son of late actress Vijayanirmala, was evident at the oath-taking ceremony in March this year itself.

On the day of the ceremony, while Hema was delivering her speech, Naresh interrupted her, snatched the mic away, and demanded that she speak later. Later, when Hema got the opportunity she chided Naresh’s behaviour,” adds another member. The executive vice president Rajasekhar, too, criticised Naresh for his behaviour and has said that the guild was for all and it has to take views of every member into account. Naresh also snubbed veteran actor Kota Srinivasa Rao when he raised the issue of hiring local artistes over other language actors, the member adds. The differences within the MAA are now coming out in open and bound to dent the image of the association. Even before getting elected as president, Naresh showed that his personal interest is over the welfare of the association. “Earlier regime headed by Shivaji Raja ignored Naresh and made plans to host fund-raising event with superstar Mahesh Babu after earning big sums with Chiranjeevi’s bash in USA. Hurt by not being involved by Shivaji Raja, he went to Mahesh Babu and ensured that the event was stopped in the last minute, causing more than Rs 2 crore loss to MAA,” says ex-office-bearer of MAA.