Priyanka Jain, the popular actress from Telugu television and a finalist of Bigg Boss Telugu Season-7, has unintentionally landed herself in a controversy that has stirred up strong reactions from the public. Known for her roles in TV serials like Janaki Kalangana and Mauna Ragam, Priyanka’s popularity soared even higher when she participated in Bigg Boss, where her unique style and straightforwardness earned her a spot in the top-5.
However, the latest incident involves a fun video she created during a trip to Tirumala with her boyfriend, Sivakumar, a renowned TV actor. The two, who have been in a relationship for several years, are known for their playful social media presence, often sharing candid moments with their followers. Recently, they posted a video of their trip to Tirumala Srivari, where they made a prank video in which they joked about encountering a “cheetah” or “tiger” on the way.
In the video, the couple can be seen near the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple on the seventh milestone of the Tirumala steps, where they added fake audio of a leopard attack. The video concluded with Priyanka revealing that there was no such animal and that the whole scenario was a joke. She even uploaded a title stating, “Cheetah attack on us on the way to Tirupati?” with shocking photos. However, Priyanka clarified at the end of the video that everything was fake and just meant to be a fun prank.
While the video was intended as light-hearted entertainment, it quickly went viral, but not in the way Priyanka might have hoped. Devotees of Lord Venkateswara and others familiar with the sacredness of the Tirumala hills expressed outrage over the video, accusing the couple of disrespecting the sanctity of the religious site just for the sake of views. Many felt that such pranks should not be conducted in a holy place, and they criticized Priyanka for exploiting the location for social media attention.
The backlash was swift, and Priyanka soon removed the video from her YouTube channel, Never Ending Tales, where she shares various candid and fun moments with her followers. Despite this, the criticism continues, with many devotees still expressing their displeasure on social media.
It is being speculated that the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the Tirumala shrine, might issue an official response to the incident. In the wake of the controversy, Priyanka is facing increased scrutiny for her actions, and her video has sparked a broader debate about the impact of social media influencers on cultural and religious spaces.
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