Cinema VinesActor Naresh Vijaya Krishna, Mahesh Babu’s step‑brother, has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his concerns over the recent switch to ethanol‑blended E20 petrol in India. In a post that began with a declaration of patriotism, Naresh warned that the new fuel mix is causing “heart attacks” for drivers ranging from motorbike riders to owners of luxury cars such as his Porsche Panamera. He cited a friend who had to replace the valves in a Toyota Camry at a cost of 3.5 lakh rupees, and estimated that a similar problem with his Porsche would cost around 12 lakh rupees.
To protect his high‑performance vehicle, Naresh said he was forced to switch to high‑octane 100 petrol, which he notes costs about ₹165 per litre. He criticised the government’s decision to adopt ethanol fuel “at the cost of crores of people” and called the move “hasty and radical.” In a comparison, he pointed out that smaller nations such as Brazil have successfully phased in ethanol without such fallout.
When an X user reminded him that Porsche models are recommended to run on premium fuel, Naresh replied that while his car’s manual does indeed advise high‑octane fuel, the reality is that such fuel is not readily available on Indian highways. He emphasized that his protest is not about his own Porsche but about the broader impact on the average driver.
The actor’s comments sparked support from fans in the comments, who echoed his concerns about the availability and affordability of high‑octane petrol. Naresh, who began his career as a lead actor and has since taken on supporting roles, remains a popular figure in the Telugu film industry. His mother, Vijaya Nirmala, was the second wife of Mahesh Babu’s father, Krishna, and had previously been married to KS Murthy.
