Dr Shiva Rajkumar, on behalf of the Film Chamber, led a gathering at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, where several stars from the Kannada film industry participated. Notable actors such as Upendra, Darshan, Duniya Vijay, Dhruva Sarja, Srinagar Kitty, Vasista Simha, along with senior actors Umashree and Sruthi, came together to support the Karnataka bandh over the Cauvery River water issue.
During the event, Shivarajkumar and other actors like Darshan expressed their concerns about the Cauvery issue. Shivarajkumar, during his speech also questioned if the presence of film stars could contribute to resolving the matter. He deeply regretted the incident where Tamil actor Siddharth, who was promoting his new film Chithha (Chikku) in Bangalore on Thursday was foreced out of the event by pro-Kannada activists and offered a heartfelt apology.
“We should never intentionally hurt the feelings of others in any way. On behalf of the Kannada film industry, I want to extend our sincerest apologies to Siddharth. Although I may not know who was responsible for this, we are profoundly troubled by the incident and are committed to ensuring that it does not happen again,” he emphasized, highlighting the unity and inclusivity of Karnataka.
Shiva Rajkumar also emphasized the rich cultural diversity within Karnataka, stating, “Kannada people have earned significant respect and admiration worldwide. Karnataka is a unique place where various languages and cultures coexist with mutual respect. It is our responsibility to safeguard the global reputation we have built.”