Renu Desai Loses Temper at Hyderabad Press Meet on Street Dog Bites, Issues Clarification Later
HYDERABAD: Actor and activist Renu Desai courted controversy on Monday after a press conference held to raise awareness about street dog bites at the Press Club Hyderabad escalated into a heated confrontation. What began as an advocacy event alongside actor Rashmi Gautam and director Sashi Kiran Tikka soon turned tense after Desai alleged that an unidentified person in the audience argued with her and attempted to attack her on stage.
Videos from the press meet quickly circulated on social media, showing Desai visibly angry and shouting at a man in the audience, prompting widespread reactions online.
Strong Remarks Trigger Backlash
During the exchange, Desai questioned what she described as selective outrage against street dogs, drawing comparisons with other public safety issues. In a strongly worded statement, she said deaths caused by mosquito-borne diseases, road accidents, and crimes such as rape and murder often fail to provoke similar protests.
“There are lakhs of people dying due to mosquito bites; do their lives not hold value?” she asked, referring to a child she knew who died of dengue. She went on to question why street dogs were being targeted collectively, drawing a controversial parallel by asking whether all men should be punished for crimes committed by a few.
Her remarks, particularly references to rape and murder while discussing animal-related issues, drew sharp criticism online, with many accusing her of insensitivity and poor choice of analogy.
Argument Escalates at Press Conference
As the interaction continued, Desai appeared to lose her temper further, directing her anger at one individual in the audience. She was heard shouting, questioning how many lives the man had saved and asking him not to speak at the event. Organisers and security personnel intervened to calm the situation.
Following reports that she had clashed with a media representative, Desai later took to Instagram to release a clarification video, addressing the incident and the online narrative surrounding it.
Clarification Video and Personal Attacks
In her video message, Desai categorically denied shouting at journalists and dismissed claims that the confrontation involved the media. She said a “random 55-year-old man” entered the press conference, began shouting at her, and attempted to approach the stage aggressively, forcing security and volunteers to restrain him.
“I did not scream at a media person. Wrong thumbnails are being made,” she said, adding that her reaction stemmed from fear and anger over the man’s behaviour.
Desai also addressed personal attacks made against her on social media, particularly comments dragging her former marriage to Pawan Kalyan and references to their children, Akira Nandan and Aadhya. Calling the remarks “disgusting,” she said she was deeply hurt by comments suggesting she deserved harm or that her children should suffer dog bites.
“I am a mother who knows the value of life,” she said, emphasising that her activism was not for personal gain. Desai also clarified that she was not entering politics and was speaking solely from a humanitarian standpoint.
She disabled comments on the video shortly after posting it.
Background
Renu Desai and Pawan Kalyan were married from 2009 to 2012. The couple separated in 2011 and later divorced. Their son Akira was born in 2004, and daughter Aadhya in 2010.
The incident has once again sparked debate around public discourse on animal welfare, civic safety, and the tone of advocacy in emotionally charged discussions.
Our Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The controversy surrounding Renu Desai’s press conference highlights how quickly public advocacy can spiral when emotions overtake communication. While concerns around street dog safety and human welfare deserve serious discussion, the episode underscores the importance of measured dialogue—especially in public forums. The online backlash and personal attacks also reflect a troubling tendency to conflate activism with personal life, diverting attention from the core issues at hand.