A formal complaint has been filed against actor Ranveer Singh following his mimicry of a scene from the movie Kantara: Chapter 1 at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 closing ceremony in Goa. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) submitted the written complaint at the Panaji police station, alleging that Singh insulted the deity Chamundi Daiva, thereby hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.
The controversy arose after Singh reenacted the climax sequence from Kantara Chapter 1 on stage, where he imitated Rishab Shetty's Daiva act. During the performance, Singh referred to the Daivas, revered forest deities, as "ghosts," which sparked immediate backlash online. Many social media users deemed the act insensitive and disrespectful towards the cultural and religious traditions depicted in the film.
Videos circulating online showed Singh saying, "When the female ghost (Chamundi daiva) enters your body – that shot was amazing," before imitating the scene. Another video suggested that Shetty had previously warned Singh not to mimic the scene, further fueling the outrage. According to reports, Shetty had politely asked Singh to refrain from mimicking the Daivas before he went on stage. It was reported that Singh approached Shetty, greeting him and Rajinikanth, and began mimicking the Daiva, at which point Shetty asked him to stop. Singh then imitated the character on stage by crossing his eyes and sticking his tongue out.
In response to the controversy, Singh issued a public apology via an Instagram Story. He stated, "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". Singh added that he deeply respects all cultures, traditions, and beliefs in the country and sincerely apologized if he had hurt anyone's sentiments.
Despite the apology, the HJS proceeded with filing the police complaint. The organization is demanding the registration of a criminal case against Singh for insulting Chamundi Daiva and hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus. The HJS alleges that Singh referred to Shree Chamundi Daiva, the sacred deity of the Koti Tulu community, as a "female ghost". They submitted a written complaint to the Panaji police station, seeking a thorough investigation and demanding a public apology from Singh.
The HJS is urging authorities to frame a clear code of conduct to ensure that no religious deity of any faith is subjected to ridicule or disrespect at future events, emphasizing the need for strict implementation of this code. HJS spokesperson Ramesh Shinde stated that the Samiti has requested that a formal offense be registered against Ranveer Singh under sections 299, 194, and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which relate to deliberately wounding religious feelings and promoting enmity in society. The complaint stated that the incident has created an atmosphere of resentment in society and that the possibility of disturbance to public peace cannot be ruled out.
Singh is currently preparing for the release of his upcoming spy thriller, Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, which is scheduled to hit cinemas this Friday.
