Ranveer Singh was pulled into headlines by the police after his imitation of Rishab Shetty's Kantara character at a state function at home made him so derogatory to Chavundi Daiva, the god that's worshipped in coastal Karnataka. The response was strong at that time according to devotees that Ranveer's "ghost" image had hurt Daiva.
The controversy stems from Ranveer Singh’s speech at the Filmfare Awards in Goa and later even at the closing ceremony in IFFI 2025 that he mimicked Rishab Shetty’s Daiva act from Kantara. His comments offended some religious sentiments in the social media context and generated an angry and heated response as much as we expected this evening.
Ranveer Singh approached Karnataka High Court to quash the FIR. During the hearing his counsel advised the court that he will give a public affidavit of unconditional apology. He will visit Chamundi Hill temple in Mysuru to give prayers and ask forgiveness. The affidavit will be submitted by April 10, 2026. Accordingly, the High Court said they may close the case if the affidavit was completed.
Public reaction was divided. Outrage: One of his words that many devotees and social media users call a disrespect for Karnataka’s ancient custom. Support: Some argued that it was a good thing that he had apologised but also for knowing that the nation’s beliefs too. Criticism: Many said celebrities would need to be more careful when they refer to religious practice and do so as they are so influential in those ways.
Kantara is not just a film but has a great deal of cultural significance in Karnataka as well due to Daiva worship. Any perceived insult to these practices can quickly escalate into legal and social friction. The apology from Ranveer Singh in this regard is an indication that Bollywood should have a higher sensitivity towards cultural practices.
As actor Ranveer Singh has written such an affidavit of apology and visited Chamundi Hill temple as well as in the last days it was a necessary step toward resolution of his conflict. A Karnataka High Court is currently considering his request to withdraw the FIR and those steps will be very effective and would make matters much easier legal as well as social in their way. This all shows the actors have to navigate between their performance and cultural and religious concerns in India.
