Top 11 Newsmakers of Telugu TV in 2018

This 2018 saw the rise of some new stars while the most unexpected ones too hit the headlines for all the right and wrong reasons. Here's a quick look at the top newsmakers of Telugu TV this year.

Kaushal Manda

It isn't exaggeration if Kaushal's professional life is classified as pre and post 2018. This dark horse of Telugu TV unarguably had a life-changing year with the reality show Bigg Boss Telugu season 2. From being the most underrated actor to a superstar of the small screen today with a huge fan community, popularly identified as 'Kaushal Army', this model-actor had raised many eyebrows with his controversial stint in the TV reality show. While the genesis of Kaushal Army and its existence never ceases to amaze anyone, he hit headlines when he claimed that the PMO office has appreciated him for his victory in the show and the US based Harvest Bible University announced a doctorate degree to him. It was proved to be a hoax on a TV show later. However, his fans continue to idolize him in many ways.

She made her Telugu TV debut with Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Telugu this year but and she was indeed off with a bang. Keeping the music reality show aside, Chinmayi was rather known for steering the #MeToo movement with her controversial allegations upon Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu. She promised to explore legal ways to take her fight forward. Within no time, she emerged to be the ray of hope for many sexual abuse victims. She tried standing by them and sharing their stories too for which she was slut-shamed online. Chinmayi, in association with her close associates, recently called for a support group as well that can help victims. A ban was imposed upon her by the Tamil dubbing association for her alleged spat with senior actor Radha Ravi, a key member of the association.

(Photo: Instagram)

This popular actor raised many a eyebrows when he chose to sign up for Bigg Boss Telugu season 2 as a host. With sky high expectations to measure up, Nani in fact had to roe a high tide trying to carve a niche with his new avatar as a host. Much before his TV debut with Bigg Boss, Nani hit headlines with the controversial sexual misconduct allegations made by actress Sri Reddy. He later slapped a legal notice to the latter demanding an unconditional apology for the false allegations. His controversial stint as Bigg Boss host reached new heights when he received flak for the same and for the first time ever #NaniUnfitAsBB2host trended on Twitter. However, all ended well for the actor when he turned out to be Google's second most searched South Indian actor in 2018 only after the Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi.

2018 must be a memorable one for popular TV host Pradeep Machiraju for more than one reason. The year started off on a bitter note when he was nabbed in a drunk and drive on New Year's eve. The actor, who remained tight lipped for a while, released a video later where he confessed his mistake and urged fans against driving while drunk. Even on professional front, he was left with Pellichoopulu, one of his biggest disasters in his career, with the show receiving flak from day one. It was even shelved much of its schedule. However, Pradeep continues to charm his fans with successful shows like Dhee Jodi. He is also one of the most eligible bachelors of Telugu TV.

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She was one of the most controversial celebrities on TV this year. All thanks to her anti-Kaushal act in Bigg Boss Telugu 2 and anti-Kaushal Army stance post eviction. She received a lot of attention for her intimacy with her inmate Samrat Reddy and a lot of flak for her controversial stint in the show. Even post eviction, she had to fight all kinds of abuse and shaming online for quite sometime. On the flip side, the actress made her ambitious TV debut as a host with The Great Telugu Laughter Challenge along with ace comedian Brahmanandam. Though the show did not fare as expected, Tejaswi chose to look forward to 2019 on a positive note.

(Photo: Instagram)

Bhanu Sri too had a life-changing season with Bigg Boss. Though she made her TV debut long back, she certainly rose to fame with the reality show. She was infamous for her controversial spat with her inmate Kaushal Manda in the house, which eventually worked in the favor of the latter. However, she tried to come out clean with the controversy and don the hat of a team leader in the popular dance reality show Dhee Jodi. But she had to quit the show within no time owing to a contract breach with the channel airing Bigg Boss. She later clarified to her fans citing reasons for quitting the show and her equation with Kaushal post Bigg Boss. Bhanu Sri is currently seen playing the lead in the recently launched daily soap Rendu Rella Aaru.

He is one of the few newfound stars of Telugu TV this year. This rationalist and human rights activist rose to fame with his controversial debate shows where he impugned astrologers and other fraudsters. This earned him a chance to take part in Bigg Boss Telugu 2. He was popularly known as "Bigger Boss" in the show with his spats with inmates Kaushal, Geetha Madhuri and the makers of the show as well. However, he earned appreciation from actor Kamal Haasan, who shares some of his rational ideologies.

Actor-producer-eminent TV personality can make headlines just with a mere speech or tweet. No wonder she is one of the most trolled Telugu celebrities. Right from 'Fasak' to 'Niladisfy', anything and everything about her is a rage on the internet and this "superstar" just doesn't mind any of it. On top of it, Lakshmi Manchu donned a new avatar as a reality show judge with the recently concluded season of Aata Juniors. She had an amazing season but this didn't stop her from voicing out her views on #MeToo movement. Lakshmi Manchu didn't hesitate to make some bold statements in her recent exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com on the same.

The Memu Saitham host along with her associates formed 'Voice for Women', a body that aims to fight and address issues of abused women of the film industry.

(Photo: Instagram)

Anchor Ravi, one of the most popular hosts of Telugu TV, had his share of bitter moments this year especially when the never ending link-up rumours with his co-host Sreemukhi did bother him. Besides, his arrest rumors broke the internet recently. However, in his exclusive chat with TimesofIndia.com, Ravi clarified that he was not arrested but was just questioned by the SR Nagar police with regard to the financial dispute with Sandeep, one of the distributors of his debut film. While he decides to take legal action against the latter, Ravi is pretty occupied on work front this year. He recently wrapped Aata Juniors, his first as a host of a dance reality show and he is eagerly looking forward to Pataas 2.0, the brand new season of one of his most successful TV shows.

(Photo: Instagram)

The unexpected demise of the popular news presenter infact shook the entire media industry. The news presenter reportedly committed suicide by jumping off the 5th floor of her residence in Moosapet, Hyderabad, owing to depression. She is a divorcee and is survived by her parents and 14-year-old mentally challenged son. The entire media and entertainment industry mourned her unexpected demise. She in fact triggered a widespread debate on suicide owing to depression, a need of the hour indeed.

Film critic and maker Mahesh Kathi, who rose to fame with Bigg Boss Telugu season one, hit headlines this year with his controversial dispute with the fan community of actor turned politician Pawan Kalyan. At a point of the season, he was a regular on TV debate shows and in one such shows, he was later accused of rape by a woman. Though Mahesh Kathi chose to challenge the allegations in the law of court, he was massively trolled in social media for various reasons. In the wake of his recent controversial comments and spat with Swami Paripoornananda, Mahesh Kathi even had to serve an exile imposed by Hyderabad city police.