Telugu sports drama Peddi has attracted criticism since its huge success from the movie’s blockbuster release on June 4, 2026 by Buchi Babu Sana and Ram Charan. In such a big way the film had been opened, with an estimated box office of ₹112–135 crore worldwide on day one but some scenes with actress Janhvi Kapoor made fans upset.
There were too many close-ups and an unfavourable kiss sequence and viewers thought that it was objectification. Social media quickly amplified the debate and many of the fans were not pleased with Kapoor’s character’s portrayal. The depictions were viewed as outdated and so culturally inaccurate in today’s age.
There were some who defended the scenes, and the movie itself, too; in fact, similar scenes in mainstream movies like Pathaan were presented in the movie’s mainstream films, but the general sentiment was one of disappointment, and even if the story was inspirational at times, as it was in the film’s otherwise uplifting narrative of athletics and community spirit in the 1980s rural Andhra Pradesh.
Following the criticism, Buchi Babu Sana, the director, apologized and said the offending scenes would be cut out of the film. “We chose to adapt in order to keep with the changing landscape of the world,” he said, and to keep the narrative of the movie from getting washed away in the mud. Many people agreed with Sana’s statement; many voiced their gratitude for his humility and listening to audience concerns.
Despite the controversy, Peddi is still performing well at the box office. Ram Charan’s performance as a villager who galvanizes his community through sports is one of his best roles. The emotional depth of the movie and the powerful background score by A.R. Rahman are what attract the audience in the film, so word-of-mouth and momentum in theaters is high.
The content can be seen to be at odds with the movie’s success and industry analysts say the cuts aren’t likely to affect the film’s overall ratings—the film did very well at first and has received solid feedback and this is good news for its marketability. But it would also be good for the movie to be able to appeal to a more contemporary audience if it fits with the culture today of respect for women and relationships in Indian cinema (the film is not only at risk but also to do justice to that and be respectful to the current expectations of representation).
Peddi ends up as a commercial triumph and cultural conversation piece. Although its box office success highlights Ram Charan’s star power and the film’s universal appeal, the director’s apology shows how sensitive the storytelling world is becoming. And this episode is indicative of the new reality that cinema has to be good or it’s just not good enough but must be great and representably represented.
