Tamil-Telugu actor Anjali took to her X (formerly Twitter) page to defend actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, following a viral video showing him pushing her on stage at the 'Gangs of Godavari' event. The video drew widespread criticism, with Balakrishna being labeled "rude" and "disrespectful" by celebrities and social media users alike. Director Hansal Mehta even referred to him as a "scumbag."

In response, Anjali posted a video from the event, thanking Balakrishna for attending and emphasizing their long-standing mutual respect and friendship. Her message read, "I want to thank Balakrishna Garu for gracing the Gangs of Godavari pre-release event with his presence. I would like to express that Balakrishna garu and I have always maintained mutual respect for each other and we share a great friendship from a long time. It was wonderful to share the stage with him again."

Despite receiving strong support online, Anjali's defense of Balakrishna surprised many. The shared video includes various moments from the event, including the contentious incident.

As the internet condemned Balakrishna for his actions, some users questioned why Anjali was seen laughing. Playback singer and voice artist Chinmayi Sripaada criticized the moral policing directed at Anjali, noting that people cannot expect her to respond in a specific way in a moment of surprise. She stated, "One of the biggest problems that I notice from people sharing this is 'Look at her laughing. She should have...' It is NOT possible to respond according to your spectator response as you watch this on your device."

Actor Vishwak Sen and producer Naga Vamsi, both involved in 'Gangs of Godavari,' also defended Balakrishna, arguing that the incident was blown out of proportion.

Nandamuri Balakrishna has faced criticism in the past for his behavior towards fellow actors, fans, and assistants, making this latest incident part of a recurring pattern of controversial conduct.