Cinema VinesActor Nagarjuna took to the stage at Hyderabad’s Suraksha Ka Tiranga Cyber Awareness Programme, organised by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, to discuss the growing threat of cyber‑attacks on public figures. Speaking to a packed audience, the Telugu star admitted that his celebrity status makes him a frequent target and that he is constantly on guard against potential hackers.
“I carry a phone, but I am always worried about who will hack into it,” Nagarjuna said. He added that he changes his phone password every fifteen days and updates his home Wi‑Fi password every month or two, citing the risk of unauthorized access. The actor also revealed that he deliberately keeps no photographs on his device, joking that there are “no photographs” on his phone, a measure he says helps protect his privacy.
Nagarjuna’s concerns were sparked by a scam call he received several years ago. He recounted a conversation with a man posing as a bank officer who tried to persuade him to invest in stocks. “He was so good at marketing this thing, and finally, when I was not giving in, he kept trying to persuade me and called me smart,” the actor recalled. The incident made him more wary of suspicious calls and online scams.
He also shared an unsettling experience involving a relative who was “digitally arrested” at home for six to seven hours by a uniformed officer. “I have also received such calls from people claiming to be from customs and that I have sent a package to Iran,” Nagarjuna explained. “They told me I will get a call from the police department. Then a call comes about a suspicious package. You get another call saying there are narcotics in it. When you say you didn’t do, they try to keep you on call at home. Luckily, this relative called the Cyber Crime department.”
Beyond his security measures, Nagarjuna highlighted his recent and upcoming projects. He starred in Sekhar Kammula’s “Kuberaa” alongside Dhanush, Rashmika Mandanna and Jim Sarbh, and will appear in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s “Coolie” with Rajinikanth, Shruti Haasan and Soubin Shahir in 2025. The actor also produced his son Akhil Akkineni’s comeback film “Lenin” this year and is set to star in a film with Ra Karthik that will mark his 100th appearance on screen.
