Published Apr 15, 2026 | 7:18 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 15, 2026 | 7:18 AM
Anudeep Katikala.
Synopsis: The Andhra Pradesh Police arrested stand-up comedian Anudeep Katikala over remarks made against Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. The arrest came days after an FIR was registered on 11 April based on a complaint. The complainant alleged that the comedian’s remarks were objectionable and targeted the personal lives of the actor-politician and his family.
The Andhra Pradesh Police arrested stand-up comedian Anudeep Katikala on Tuesday, 14 April, from Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh over remarks made on Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
The arrest came days after an FIR was registered on 11 April based on a complaint filed with Kakinada Police by a member of the Jana Sena Party. The complainant, identified as Bade Venkata Krishna, alleged that the comedian’s remarks were objectionable and targeted the personal lives of the actor-politician and his family.
The controversy stems from a video clip of Anudeep’s recent stand-up performance that went viral on social media. In the video, he made remarks about the personal lives of Pawan Kalyan and members of the Konidela family, including Niharika Konidela and Ram Charan. One of the most criticised lines included a comment about learning “how to divorce” from Pawan Kalyan, while another remark referred to Niharika Konidela in a similar vein.
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The jokes triggered sharp backlash online, with several users accusing the comedian of crossing limits by targeting personal matters. Some also questioned the use of family-related issues as material for humour, calling it inappropriate.
The issue has also drawn reactions from sections of the film industry, with reports suggesting that some members have demanded an apology. Though Anudeep reportedly issued an apology after facing outrage and even threats online, the case was still pursued.
The FIR invokes sections 356(2), 353(2), and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, relating to alleged offensive and objectionable online content.
Anudeep (30), had also drawn criticism for remarks describing Ram Charan as a “feminist” in the context of his wife, Upasana Konidela, being wealthier than him. The videos, uploaded on YouTube, led to widespread circulation and backlash from fans of Telugu film personalities, including those of Chiranjeevi, the elder brother of Pawan Kalyan and father of Ram Charan.
Earlier, Katikala had apologised for his remarks.
“My whole intention of the video was to question toxic fan culture, and we saw proof of that over the weekend, in the way some people attacked my comedian friends. I apologise to the individuals who were hurt or mentioned in the video. I will be more mindful of my words going forward,” he had said.
(With inputs from Sumit Jha.)
