Chennai, March 14 (NationPress) Actor Vishal, who also serves as the secretary of the South Indian Artistes Association (SIAA), commonly referred to as the Nadigar Sangam, expressed his gratitude toward esteemed Telugu actor Rajendra Prasad for acknowledging the feelings of fans of the late actor and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and for apologizing for his recent comments regarding him.

In a video shared on his social media platforms, Vishal stated, "Hello Rajendra Prasad Sir, on behalf of the South Indian Artistes Association and the fans of M.G. Ramachandran, we want to extend our thanks to you. We released a video regarding your remarks because we were all deeply affected. Many expressed their hurt, prompting us to reach out to you. It is human to make mistakes, but recognizing it and apologizing is commendable. Thank you for your thoughtful gesture. If anyone were to speak of you in such a manner in the future, we would certainly oppose it."

Continuing, he mentioned, "Though we belong to a different generation, numerous individuals who worked alongside the former Chief Minister, such as Saidai Duraisamy, felt pain from your comment. Nonetheless, your video apology brought joy to everyone who appreciated your acknowledgment of the issue. Your understanding of our sentiments is truly appreciated, and on behalf of the countless fans who still hold MGR dear, thank you."

For those who may not know, during an event in Hyderabad, Rajendra Prasad praised veteran Telugu actor Kanta Rao. In the course of his speech, he made a comment that unintentionally belittled the legendary Tamil actor and former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran.

This remark ignited considerable backlash in Tamil Nadu, leading many Tamil actors and fans to call for an apology from the Telugu star.

Upon realizing that his unintentional comment had offended MGR's fans, Rajendra Prasad issued a heartfelt apology.

In his video, the veteran Telugu actor apologized in Tamil, stating, "I am Rajendra Prasad, a Telugu actor. At a recent event where I received an award named after Kanta Rao, I made a light-hearted comment about the 'God of Tamil cinema' MGR, but a word slipped out."

He emphasized that his remarks were not meant to offend, expressing his profound respect for M.G. Ramachandran. "Would I dare to speak about him in such a way? When I was a student at the Madras Film Institute, he was the Chief Minister, often visiting us to see how we were learning. I am not in a position to speak of him like that. If my words have caused any distress, I sincerely apologize. I promise never to speak in that manner again. I hope you can forgive my mistake and let this matter rest," he concluded.