'She did what the director asked her to do': Jagapathi Babu BACKS Janhvi Kapoor in the 'Peddi' controversy

Janhvi Kapoor's hypersexualised portrayal in Ram Charan's 'Peddi' has been receiving massive backlash. Now, Jagapathi Babu has come forward to defend the actress and has urged people not to personally target her. He also asked the viewers to direct their criticism at the film rather than the individual artist.As the discussion around Buchi Babu Sana's 'Peddi' continues to gain momentum online, co-star Jagapathi Babu has taken a firm stance in support of Janhvi Kapoor. The veteran actor, who played the role of Appalasuri in the film, stated that Janhvi should not be held responsible for creative decisions that were ultimately the director's call.Speaking to Telugu360 Digital, Jagapathi Babu said, "As an artist, the only thing I would say is please don't target the actor. It's unfair to go after that girl. We don't know what her personal views were or whether she agreed with every creative decision."The 64-year-old actor made it clear that actors often surrender creative control once they place their trust in a director's vision. He said, "It's not as if she pushed for it herself. She did what the director asked her to do. When an actor signs on and trusts a director's vision, they follow that vision. We do what the director tells us. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. He (Buchi Babu) may have his own reasons. I support Janhvi in this matter."He further added, "If you like or dislike the film, comment on the film. But don't single out an artist, troll them, or cause them mental distress."Buchi Babu Sana had publicly apologised to audiences who felt uncomfortable with the portrayal of Janhvi's character Achiyamma. He also promised to make changes to certain scenes in the theatrical edit. However, the criticised portions are reportedly still being screened in cinemas.Despite the controversy, 'Peddi' has been raking in big numbers at the box office. It has now crossed Rs 248 crore worldwide since its release on June 4, 2026.The film stars Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor in the lead roles, with Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Divyenndu, and Boman Irani in key supporting parts.