Tollywood's young brigade of stars maintained a perfect blend of work and pleasure by shooting all day and let their hair down by night at city's night clubs untiil not so long ago. Ever since actor Raviteja's brothers Raghu and Bharat were caught by the city police red handed buying drugs followed by hour long discussions on news channels and pages of news print spent on accusing the actor community of being drug addicts, most young stars are avoiding clubbing in the city like plague.Once ferocious party animals Allu Arjun, Navdeep, Raja, Subbaraju, Sharwanand, Mumait Khan, Rana et al are now barely seen in night clubs. While party goers fume at lack of glam quotient in night clubs, stars prefer to stay aloof than be branded as 'bad boy' or 'drug' user.
"I have good friends in Tollywood and make it a point to catch up with them whenever I am in the city. But ever since the night clubs have come under scanner for allegedly being hubs for drug usage, I am avoiding them.The news reports of all stars being the same was uncalled for. To avoid being branded, most of my actor friends don't party at clubs any more. I also feel that if we are seen partying too much in our hometown, we are not taken seriously" says actress Sanjana an avid party animal candidly.
Yet another actor seconds Sanjana on condition of anomyity,
"I wasn't in the city when the whole drug issue hit the headlines. But even abroad, I heard about it and there too people were asking me if it is true that all Telugu actors are into drugs. To my horror, anyone who is even remotely seen partying was branded as a drug user. I thought it is not good to be seen clubbing as that image created by news stories hasn't faded away yet" .
Worse, a few night clubs in the city are raided post midnight by police, narcotics officials and more to check for any drug users.The stars say though they are 'clean', there is always a chance of being entangled in unwanted trouble despite their innocence. When an actor called for a party recently at a night club over the weekend, hardly any of his T' wood buddies turned up, thanks to fear of being branded as drug user or bad boy.That apart, most heroes in the industry come from powerful film families and wouldn't like to see their son's rising film career flicker due to 'party boy' image.
"Ever since Bharat and Raghu were caught, actors are being branded as people with no values which is sad. Any generalisation is not true. But many actors think it is better to avoid clubbing than being 'branded' as party animal. I am not clubbing often in the city because most of my friends in the industry don't club as frequently as before" admits Mumait Khan who is a self proclaimed party animal.
"It was raining stars in our night clubs before. But ever since the episode, we hardly see them in our club.Ocassionally one or two actors drop in over the weekends but it is nothing like how they use to turn up earlier" says co-promoter of a popular night club.
While night clubs are strict no-no with stars now, house parties are a hit big time among young T'wood junta. They are proving to be strong alternative party zones to them. Gather at a star's place or a director's office post shoot and party all night is T'wood's newest party format.Safer, the actors now don't feel the need to worry as there are no papparazies eyeing them or onlookers judging them for sipping a glass of wine. Young stars are huddling in their friends places which they say ensures them their exclusivity.
"I wasn't in the town luckily when actor's names were flashed in TV channels randomly alleging them of being involved in drugs. That episode has changed our partying venue from regular night clubs to other places. It is good to be partying in friend's places or decent restraunts were the murky act of shady people don't damage our image. I continue to party because I know I am clean" says Bindu Madhavi, actress who hits the dance floor regularly.
With newer venues proving safer and hassle free, T'wood's party stars are sure to give night clubs a skip for a really long time now.
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