Ranveer Singh’s compliment to Rishab Shetty at the IFFI 2025 closing ceremony sparked backlash after he casually referred to the Kantara daiva as a “female ghost” and mimicked the film’s climactic scene
Ranveer Singh and a still from Kantara
On Friday (November 28), filmmaker and actor Rishab Shetty and Ranveer Singh attended the IFFI 2025 closing ceremony in Goa. During the ceremony, Ranveer complimented Rishab for his performance in Kantara Chapter 1. However, a video of the incident has gone viral for all the wrong reasons, with some online users accusing Ranveer of mimicking the film's climactic sequence and referring to the daiva as a 'female ghost'.
Here's what Ranveer Singh said
In the clip, Ranveer can be heard saying: "I watched Kantara Chapter 1 in theatres, and Rishab, it was an outstanding performance, especially when the female ghost (Chamundi daiva) enters your body — that shot was amazing." He then imitated the scene, leaving Rishab in splits. Ranveer also asked the audience whether they wanted to see him in Kantara 3 and urged them to forward the message to Rishab.
Ranveer Singh asking to be cast in Kantara 3 at an event
byu/dukhi_mogambo inBollyBlindsNGossip
Netizens slam Ranveer Singh
However, other social media users criticised his statements and actions as insensitive and insulting. One comment read, "How can actors lack a fundamental sense of what should and should not be said? "It is extremely disrespectful to the people of the South to refer to their goddess as a female ghost." Another person commented, "To be honest, I thought it rather disrespectful. "Ranveer should know better." A third person added, "It is a complete disrespect to the daivas." Another person asked, "Ghost?" "He should have been more careful with his words—this is extremely tone-deaf."
One of the comments stated, "This is quite disrespectful. "She is not a ghost, but a goddess herself." Another said, "What a naive and disrespectful man." His bride is from the same geographical region as the Daiva tradition. At the very least, show some respect. The uproar comes as Ranveer's upcoming film, Dhurandhar, is just days away from release.
The film, directed by and starring Rishab Shetty, is a prelude to the 2022 smash Kantara. The plot dives deeper into the history of the custom and ancestral struggle that were established in the first film. It also has Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah in prominent parts. The film became the highest-grossing film of 2025, earning Rs 851.93 crore globally at the box office.
In Dhurandhar, Ranveer plays a rough, action-packed character. Aditya Dhar directed the film, which also stars Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan in significant roles. The film is set to hit theaters on December 5.
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