Rishab Shetty breaks silence after Ranveer Singh apologises for mimicking Chavundi from Kantara: Chapter 1, ‘The daiva element is sensitive and sacred’

Actor-director Rishab Shetty has finally spoken about the controversy that erupted after Ranveer Singh mimicked the divine figure Chamundi Daiva (Chavundi) from the movie Kantara: Chapter 1 during their interaction at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa earlier this month. While Rishab did not take names, his remarks addressed the growing discomfort around sacred cultural elements being turned into public performances.

Rishab shared his thoughts while speaking at a Behindwoods event in Chennai, reflecting on the unintended consequences of making a culturally rooted film like Kantara.

‘Cinema walks a thin line with tradition’

Rishab acknowledged that films drawing from deep-rooted traditions always carry a certain risk. He said that with Kantara, there was a constant fear that culture and belief could be diluted and turned into pop culture once the film reached a wider audience.

He reiterated that, as a filmmaker, he relied heavily on the guidance of elders to ensure that every ritual and portrayal in the film was handled with care and respect. However, he admitted that once a film is released, its elements often take on a life of their own.

‘That makes me uncomfortable’

Speaking about people reenacting the daivas on stage, Rishab said such instances leave him uneasy. “That makes me uncomfortable. While much of the film is cinema and performance, the daiva element is sensitive and sacred. Wherever I go, I request people not to perform it on stage or mock it. It is emotionally deeply connected to us,” he said.

He added that despite repeated requests from the Kantara team, seeing the daivas being “mimicked or mocked” deeply affects him.

What happened at IFFI

For the unversed, during an interaction at IFFI, Ranveer Singh met Rishab Shetty and mimicked the daivas while speaking about Kantara. Ranveer repeated the gesture on stage as well, even after Rishab asked him not to.

The viral moment triggered widespread criticism online, with many calling it disrespectful to a sacred tradition.

Ranveer Singh’s clarification

After facing backlash, Ranveer Singh addressed the issue on Instagram, explaining that his intention was to praise Rishab’s performance. “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,” he wrote.

He also apologised, saying, “I have always deeply respected every culture, tradition and belief in our country. If I've hurt anyone's sentiments, I sincerely apologise.”

Work front

On the work front, Kantara (2022) and Kantara: Chapter 1 (2025) remain among the highest-grossing Kannada films after KGF: Chapter 2. Meanwhile, Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continues its strong theatrical run, ranking among the year’s biggest box office successes.

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