- Wanted to Die at That Moment: Actress Hema*
I was deeply depressed mentally due to the drugs case
Meet the Press organized by the Film Critics Association featuring prominent actress Hema.
Hema is a household name in the Telugu film industry. Renowned as a character artist and comedian, she has entertained audiences with diverse roles and earned a unique identity through her natural acting. Simultaneously, she frequently makes headlines for her straightforward and outspoken nature.
On Monday, at the Telugu Film Chamber in Hyderabad, the Film Critics Association organized a “Meet the Press” event featuring Hema, who has spent decades establishing herself in Tollywood. During the event, she spoke emotionally about the recent drug case filed against her, the hardships her family endured, and the role of the media.
Speaking at the event, Hema shared that the allegations against her in the drug case left her mentally devastated.
”At that time, I felt like dying. I was that depressed,” she expressed with deep sorrow.
However, she clarified that she had done nothing wrong and emphasized that she eventually emerged innocent.
She accused certain media outlets of “slinging mud” by making baseless allegations. She stated that these reports affected not only her personal life but also caused immense pain to her family members.
Family Impact: My family suffered a lot. It was a very tough time for us, she noted.
View on Media: While critical of some, she clarified that she doesn’t blame the entire media fraternity and believes that honest media organizations will stand by her. She expressed hope that the media would do her justice in the future.
Perspectives from the Film Critics Association
Battula Prasad Rao (President, Film Critics Association):
Actress Hema is in a state of distress regarding the media’s portrayal. We invited her to this ‘Meet the Press’ to provide a platform for her to share what is on her mind. As she mentioned, not just her, even we as journalists have faced discrimination at times.
Prabhu (Honorary President, Film Critics Association):
The media has always maintained a friendly relationship with the film industry. However, recently, false news has been spreading due to social media. Hema has proven her innocence in court. Her grievance is that while many outlets maligned her when the allegations surfaced, no one responded positively once she was cleared by the court.
Suresh Kondeti (General Secretary, Film Critics Association):
Hema garu has played numerous roles and held various positions in the Movie Artists Association (MAA). She has always supported women in the industry whenever they faced issues. I have often been surprised by her courage. It is heartbreaking that such a brave woman had to suffer so much due to false news. We are happy she has emerged innocent, and she is here today to share both her joy and her pain.”
The event was attended by several members of the Film Critics Association and various media representatives, where Hema provided clarifications on the controversies and shared her personal ordeal.
