Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Feb 16: On Thursday February 15, fans who had seen their idols only on TV screens so far, got a chance to freely interact and mingle with the celebrities at Vakwady near here. For a day, the celebrities too seemed to have forgotten about their status, as celebrities like Niranjan Deshpande and Pratham distributed water to devotees who were seated in lines for lunch. Some other actors from both big and small screens were found to be busy getting selfies clicked in the company of their fans. One could witness this scene at the annual 'Haaluhabba' and 'Genda Seve' programme held at Lord Nandikeshwara temple at Golihaddi, Vakwady, like in previous years.

Winner of 'Bigg Boss 4', Pratham, 'Bigg Boss 5' contestant, Sameer Acharya, and his wife, Shravani, small screen actors, Niranjan Deshpande, Sujata, Priyanka Chincholi, Kaavya, Gautami, Prashant, and Veena Ponnappa took part in the said programme.

Pratham said that after winning the reality show last time, he had visited this temple. He said that after that, he received many offers, and hence, he has come here again this year.

Former MLA, Halady Srinivas Shetty, took part in the temple programme. He chatted with celebrities for sometime. When the celebrities wanted to know from him how he could win the election without the support of a political party, Halady said that everything is possible with people's blessings. Pratham jokingly said he wants to be Lok Sabha candidate of this constituency, but was surprised after learning that Shobha Karandlaje represents this constituency. Niranjan Deshpande said that V K Mohan would be a candidate in the next 'Bigg Boss' show. But V K Mohan said he does not want to get identified with reality shows and political parties. With this, he put to rest speculation in the social media that he would be fighting from this assembly constituency as a JD(S) candidate.

'Bigg Boss' celebrities, Pratham and Sameer Acharya, condemned registration of court cases against farmers fighting for fair share in Mahadayi river water. "We have heard that people who do not give drinking water when demanded, will take the form of lizard in their next births. We have asked for a small quantum of water. It had been promised that cases against farmers participating in this struggle would be withdrawn. But the government has gone ahead with registration of cases, which we condemn," said Sameer Acharya to the media. Pratham too supported this statement.