Telugu superstar Allu Arjun found himself in the spotlight after a brand strategist claimed there were “42 dos and don’ts” to meet him. Both she and the podcast host later apologised. Read on to get the full story behind the controversy and see how it all unfolded.
Image Source: Instagram
Telugu superstar Allu Arjun recently found himself in the middle of a social media storm though this one had more drama than a Tollywood action climax. The drama kicked off when brand strategist Kaveri Baruah claimed on the popular Sweekriti Talks podcast that meeting the actor came with a strict set of “42 dos and don’ts.”
Cue gasps, memes, and angry fans taking to X (formerly Twitter) to defend their favourite star.
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Kaveri Baruah’s statement was sensational enough to trend instantly. On the podcast, she said: “Before meeting him, we had a note which had 42 dos and don’ts. And they have a manager’s manager’s manager. They are very strict, like don’t look into sir’s eyes, don’t shake his hand.”
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It didn’t take long for the clip to make the rounds. Social media users and some media outlets amplified the claim painting Allu Arjun as a diva with a fortress of managers and impossibly rigid rules.
Fans were divided; some calling it an outrageous exaggeration, others shocked that a superstar could have such protocols.
Unsurprisingly, the actor’s camp wasn’t going to stay quiet. Almost immediately, Allu Arjun’s team issued a formal statement calling the claims “completely baseless and untrue.”
An official note from Icon star @alluarjun’s Office. A recent video spreading baseless allegations about @alluarjun is completely false. The matter is being taken seriously, and legal action is being initiated against those responsible. Kindly refrain from sharing unverified… pic.twitter.com/WDIcfo5FrB
— Vamsi Kaka (@vamsikaka) February 10, 2026
“Certain recent comments made about Mr Allu Arjun are completely baseless and untrue. He has always conducted himself with the utmost dignity and honour. We take these false allegations seriously. Our legal team is initiating defamation proceedings against those responsible. We request everyone to refrain from spreading unverified information.”
Several of Allu Arjun’s co-stars also came forward to defend him dismissing any suggestion that the actor imposed unusual restrictions on those meeting him.
The story could have continued to spiral, but both Kaveri Baruah and Sweekriti, the podcast host, later issued public apologies, trying to set the record straight.
On Monday, Kaveri took to X and wrote a carefully worded statement: “Upon reflection, I wish to clarify that these statements were incorrect and were not based on any verified document or factual material. To be clear, no document containing ‘42 dos and don’ts’ was issued to me by Mr Allu Arjun or by anyone acting on his behalf. My remarks were made in the flow of conversation and should not have been presented as factual assertions.”
— Kaveri Baruah (@kaveri_baruah) February 15, 2026
She continued, expressing regret for any reputational harm caused: “I sincerely regret making those statements and any misunderstanding or reputational harm they may have caused. I withdraw the remarks in their entirety. I have the utmost respect for Mr Allu Arjun and his body of work, and I regret any inconvenience caused.”
Sweekriti, the host of Sweekriti Talks, followed suit on Instagram, removing the podcast episode and the reel that contained Kaveri’s statements. She emphasised that the episode was intended as an educational discussion on general industry practices, not a personal attack.
View this post on Instagram
“There was no intention whatsoever to harm, provoke, defame, or make any imputation against any individual, nor to derive any undue advantage at the expense of any person. Notwithstanding the absence of malice or intent, we acknowledge that as the publisher, we bear responsibility for the consequences of content disseminated from our platform.”
She clarified that Kaveri’s original remarks were shared in good faith without knowledge of their inaccuracy. However, after Kaveri’s retraction, all related content was removed from YouTube and Instagram.
“We are clarifying and correcting the record. The guest has since acknowledged and withdrawn unverified statements. The said remarks stand expressly withdrawn from all our platforms. We regret any unintended misunderstanding that may have arisen and reiterate that there was no malice. We also request that third parties refrain from any further misrepresentation or selective interpretation. And we further request people to end the harassment of the host and those associated with our channel.”
For context, the “42 dos and don’ts” mentioned by Kaveri included bizarre rules like “don’t look into sir’s eyes” and “don’t shake his hand.”
While these rules made for juicy gossip, it turns out they were never actually issued by the actor or his team.
What started as a casual anecdote exploded into a social media firestorm showing just how quickly celebrity-related claims can spiral online.
This episode highlights two things about celebrity culture and social media in India. First, sensationalism spreads fast. Even unverified claims can reach millions before a clarification appears.
Second, accountability matters. Both the brand strategist and the podcast host issued public apologies, removed the content, and clarified that there was no malice. In an age of instant virality, this is a rare example of responsible correction.
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