Hansal Mehta Says A 'Star' REFUSED To Meet His Specially Abled Son: 'Requested Through His Brother...'

South superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni has issued an apology after a video of his bodyguard pushing a fan at the airport went viral. The incident, which occurred as Nagarjuna was making his way through a busy airport, has sparked a huge backlash on social media, with many criticising the actor for not reacting at the time. And now, filmmaker Hansal Mehta and his son Jay Mehta have reacted to it.

Taking to X, Jay wrote a long note. He wrote, “I’d like to point out (I could be wrong. But I don’t think I am) that the gentleman asking for the ‘stars’ attention seems to be specially abled. Do they actually think a staff member/ employee at an airport who must be witnessing celebrities walk in and out of that very same arrivals gate at least 100 times a day would just barge into their personal space and nudge them for a look? The answer is NO! That man is clearly handicapped. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I highly doubt I am. In fact I have a feeling I sat on a chair outside this very outlet last week, waiting for a friend to pick me up from the airport and noticed this specially abled person. The security guards ought to be educated on how to control a crowd better and more respectfully. Celebrities/ Politicians/ Sportsmen need to start being a little less self obsessed and a little more giving. Don’t get me wrong here. I love this actor, I’ve always loved him. But I hate that he didn’t even bother to look at the person that walked into him and didn’t even bother to look back the person that got shoved away from him by his security guard! The only reason all the biggies in the world are big is because ‘inconsequential’ people like this little chap give you that respect, adulation and admiration. If it weren’t for them, you’d be a nobody! Now to why this particular video really pissed me off. My younger brother, Pallava, is mentally challenged. He has Down’s syndrome. It’s not something he contracted through a dirty syringe… he was born like this. It’s genetic. Trivia: He is a die hard Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan fan. Practically knows all their movies and songs. And this is a big deal for us because he can barely pronounce our names as well as he does their names, movies or songs!

Now to the reason this particular incident really hit the one nerve I have left. I’m so used to seeing my brother get weird looks from people. Even educated-aware-so called Woke people. But that’s okay. I’m used to it. But what would really break my heart is… if I ever took my younger brother to an industry film screening with me, and by chance at this event his two idols were present. I wouldn’t want my brother’s innocence and lack of understanding to get him pushed/ flung by anybody that way. No matter who they are. And the only reason he has never come for any of our screenings is that, if somebody were to make a snarky comment on him, or were to push him because he was supposedly ‘being weird,’ something he wouldn’t do, but in his case, you can never truly know… but those peeps would have a lot more to worry about than an ‘image-damaging’ post on X or Instagram. Somebody would’ve got hurt real bad! I’m sorry to be so extra and vocal. But it just triggered me because I can picture my brother doing the exact same thing to almost any person he might’ve seen on tv, including Nagarjuna Sir. I guess I’ll just need to teach the handicapped kid to keep his head down and his mouth shut instead of teaching an educated person with a sound state of mind to be a little more aware and gentle.”

To this, his father, Hansal Mehta wrote about a star who refused to meet his son. He wrote, “True story. So my son Pallava is a fan of this massive star. I’d requested through his brother, his close friends at various times that meeting the star would mean the world to him. And it would be my gift to my boy. When his eyes were operated the first person he recognised in the newspaper was that star. But no. There was no response from the star or his friends. I gave up. Now over the years Pallu’s cognitive abilities have declined. And this will have no meaning even if it has to happen.

Reposting the video of the incident, Nagarjuna wrote on his official X account: “This just came to my notice… this shouldn’t have happened!! I apologise to the gentleman and will take necessary precautions that it will not happen in the future!!!”