• Source:JND
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Kantara Controversy: Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh has found himself at the centre of controversy after he was accused of disrespecting sacred Daiva traditions from coastal Karnataka. The incident took place at the closing ceremony of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where Ranveer was promoting his upcoming action thriller Dhurandhar. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) submitted a formal complaint at the Panaji police station, alleging that Ranveer insulted Goddess Chamunda Devi by referring to the revered Chavundi Daiva as a ‘female ghost’. 

According to the complaint, Ranveer Singhn also imitated a ritualistic possession scene from Kantara Chapter 1 on stage, which is considered a sacred performance by the Tulu community. HJS representatives Pramod Tuyekar and Dilip Shetye handed over a memorandum to the police, calling for action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for hurting Hindu sentiments. The organisation stated that Chavundi Daiva is considered a family deity by the Kotitulu community and that depicting the deity in a derogatory manner could disturb public peace. The group also urged the IFFI organisers to implement a strict code of conduct to ensure religious sentiments are protected during public performances. “Ranveer Singh should issue a public apology and assure that such remarks or acts will not be repeated,” the HJS stated, while appealing to its supporters to protest peacefully.

Viral Videos Show Rishab Shetty Warning Ranveer Singh

Interestingly, videos circulating online show Kantara director-actor Rishab Shetty warning Ranveer not to mimic Daivas moments before the actor went on stage. In the clip, Ranveer greets Rishab and tries to imitate his famous scenes, but Rishab can be seen raising his finger and shaking his head, signalling him to stop. Ranveer acknowledges the gesture but later proceeds to mimic the scene again on stage. While speaking to the crowd, Ranveer praised Rishab’s performance but once again referred to the Chavundi sequence as the moment “when the female ghost gets inside your body”, leading to widespread criticism online. Clips of Ranveer making exaggerated facial expressions, sticking out his tongue, and recreating the intense scream from the film quickly went viral.

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Meanwhile, the Kantara team has previously urged fans not to imitate Daivas casually. After the release of Kantara: Chapter 1, the producers had reminded audiences that Daivaradhane is a sacred spiritual practice, not a costume performance. Social media users called the act insensitive and disrespectful towards Daivaradhane, a centuries-old ritual tradition in Tulu Nadu. Several users pointed out that mimicking Daiva rituals while wearing shoes is considered highly inappropriate. Some even questioned why such a performance was allowed on the IFFI stage.

On the other hand, this controversy has emerged just days before the release of Dhurandhar, which stars Ranveer Singh alongside Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, is set to release on December 5. Neither Ranveer Singh nor Rishab Shetty has yet responded to the latest backlash. However, Ranveer did receive appreciation at IFFI for his heartfelt tribute to Rajinikanth during the ceremony.

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