On Nov. 28 at the closing ceremony of the IFFI event, Ranveer Singh mimicked Rishab Shetty's Chamundi Daiva possession scene from the climax of Kantara: Chapter 1. During his act, Ranveer referred to the deity as a "female ghost," which upset many online. After backlash and an official complaint from the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS), the actor issued an apology on his Instagram story.
"My intention was to highlight Rishabh's incredible performance in the film. Actor to actor, I know how much it would take to perform that particular scene in the way that he did, for which he has my utmost admiration. (sic)," wrote the Dhurandhar actor.
Ranveer also stated he has "deep respect" for every culture, tradition, and belief in India. He concluded his note by sincerely apologising for any hurt caused.
Rishab was seated in the front row at the event, appearing to signal Ranveer to be cautious, given the sensitivity of the subject.
In their complaint, the HJS wrote: “Chamundi Daiva is considered a sacred family deity of the Tulu community, and depicting or describing the deity in a derogatory manner amounts to disrespect. Such acts may cause public resentment and disturb peace."
On the stage, Ranveer had seemingly intended the mimicry to be an appreciation of Rishab's intensity, but the act unexpectedly backfired. "I watched Kantara Chapter 1 in theatres, and Rishab, it was an outstanding performance, especially when the female ghost (Chamundi daiva) enters your body — that shot was amazing," Ranveer said then.
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar is gearing up for release on Dec. 5. The film was recently caught in legal trouble after the parents of the late Major Mohit Sharma moved the Delhi High Court to stay the release of the Aditya Dhar action movie as they believe it to be a fictionalisation, done without consent, of their son's activities.
