You could tell Janhvi was on edge for a second at the heaving Peddi event in Vijayawada when a Ram Charan admirer got too worked up and pushed through the line. That was all the invitation Kevin Kunta needed to make his move. The video has been making the rounds on social media, and for good reason – it’s a textbook example of what can happen at a high-profile push like this.
It happened while the two were on stage. A fan with a do just like the actor’s came running and cut in too close to Janhvi. Security was on it in a flash; Kevin hauled the guy back and put some room between them and the stars.
If you watch the footage from the audience, you’ll see Janhvi flinch as the guards put up a wall. People online were quick to chime in. One fan even left an emoji-laden note for Kevin, and you can see why – it’s a reaction anyone who has been to one of these bloated promos would understand.
Security response and the Kevin Kunta factor
Then there is Kevin. He’s an MMA type and he’s with Ram Charan more often than not, which has made him something of a name with the fans. You’ll spot him in a dark suit, a few paces behind the actor, steady as you like.
Ram Charan was in a playful mood in an interview the other day, saying he has to keep Kevin from going out on his own because with his new profile, someone might try to buy him out with a chocolate or a biscuit for some inside info. This week’s video has only added to that talk.
Here is how it went down:
– Fan makes a run for the stage
– Janhvi’s reaction as the crowd closes in
– Kevin has the fan in hand in no time
– Online world gives a nod to the speed of it
The fan is still in the picture
Put the alarm aside and you see a different side in another clip from the night. The very same fan was let in to have a word with Ram Charan, who was happy to hear him out as he put in a thanks and touched his feet.
That was the right way to handle it. It’s a hard line to walk at a rambunctious event like this, but it shows you can be safe and human at the same time. It lets the rest of the room know you can get some access, if you play by the rules.
Peddi is on the rise
Vijayawada was the place to be for the Peddi build-up, with Ram Charan, Janhvi and Buchi Babu Sana in attendance. The numbers were there to prove the film has people talking, even if this one moment upstaged the rest of the show for a while.
Buchi Babu Sana is at the helm of the sports drama, with Venkata Satish Kilaru of Vriddhi Cinemas producing and co-production from Ishan Saksena of IVY Entertainment. Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings are presenting. On top of Ram Charan, you have Shiva Rajkumar, Janhvi, Jagapathi Babu, Divyenndu and Boman Irani in the mix.
When to see it
Mark your calendars: paid premieres on June 3, and a full theatre release the 4th.
For the fans here and in the South, the little jolt in Vijayawada is a good one: we like the energy, but some boundaries make for a better show. With Kevin’s reflexes in the headlines and the Peddi campaign in full swing, we’ll be watching for opening day.
