According to reliable sources, NTR had personally driven to the residence of his “babai” Nandamuri Balakrishna and gave him a lengthy explanation on the controversial episode of his friend Vallabhaneni Vamsi shaking hands with and hugging YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

NTR reportedly told Balakrishna that he was absolutely no way connected with the episode and that he had never encouraged Vamsi or another MLA Kodali Nani to have any pact with Jagan.

“I have no role whatsoever with the incident. In fact, I pulled Vamsi up for making it a big controversy and he had clarified that he had no plans to join the Jagan party whatsoever and would remain in the TDP,” he said.

Sources said Balakrishna, however, was not fully convinced with NTR’s explanation. He, however, told NTR to be wary of the divide and rule tactics of Jagan.

It may be mentioned that Balakrishna had ensured that there is no positive talk about Dammu, since he did not want it to overtake his film Simha. There were no post-release promo talks or success meetings anywhere about Dammu so far. And that has led to the talk in the industry that the film is just an average show.