NTR film row: RGV detained, denied entry into Vijaywada

VIJAYWADA: Film producer and director Ram Gopal Varma was detained at Vijayawada airport on Sunday and stopped from holding a media conference on his new film, ‘Lakshmi’s NTR’.
The Andhra Pradesh high court had stayed its release saying it would impact the poll outcome in AP where 25 seats are at stake. The film depicts the later stages of the life of TDP founder and national front architect N T Rama Rao. On Sunday morning, Varma, was told to return to Hyderabad ahead of the planned conference at a hotel in Vijayawada.
After the hotel allegedly denied permission, he tweeted that he would hold the press conference on the roadside at Payakapuram, in the city.
As he was heading towards Payakapuram, the police detained him at Ramavarappadu junction. Varma and producer Rakesh Reddy opposed the detention and expressed anger at the police.
After five hours of high drama Varma returned to Hyderabad on Sunday evening.