Nalini, the woman at the centre of a row over her inter-caste marriage, on Friday spoke out in support of the Praja Rajyam chief, Chiranjeevi. Nalini’s parents had alleged that the actor had forced their daughter to marry Chetan, the son of a well-known poet, K. Padma Rao.

"I am an adult and am allowed by law to make my own decisions. I got married on my own accord. Sir (Chiranjeevi) graced the wedding and came there to bless us," she said. Ms Nalini said that she had not told her parents — Mr Subba Rao and Ms Mani Rao — about the marriage since they had reservations about the boy.

"I got married to him without the knowledge of my parents. Chiranjeevi sir had no role to play. He was present as a well-wisher and guardian," she said. Earlier, the girl’s parents had appealed to the home minister, Mr K. Jana Reddy, and the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, for help. Mr Jana Reddy advised the couple to file a police complaint and seek production of their daughter.