Ranveer Singh Fans Defend Him Against Rishab Shetty's Criticism
Fans of Ranveer Singh are not happy with Rishab Shetty commenting on the actor's mimicry of his ‘Kantara Chapter One’.
The controversy surrounding Bollywood star Ranveer Singh’s stint at the IFFI 2025 closing ceremony has flared up again. While the actor had previously apologised for mimicking the sacred Daiva form from ‘Kantara Chapter One’, recent comments by Rishab Shetty have sparked a fresh wave of backlash – this time from Ranveer’s loyal fanbase. During a recent appearance in Chennai, Rishab Shetty addressed the incident, expressing his discomfort with the depiction of the Daivas outside of their ritualistic context.
“While much of the film is cinema and performance, the daiva element is sensitive and sacred,” the actor-director stated. He emphasized that he requests people everywhere not to mock or perform it on stage due to its deep emotional connection to the culture. This statement comes despite Ranveer’s earlier public apology, which many fans felt should have put the matter to rest.
Ranveer’s supporters have taken to social media to criticize Rishab for dragging the issue, arguing that the Bollywood star’s intentions were never malicious.
If Daiva was angry about Ranveer Singh mimicking it why did it make #Dhurandhar a huge hit? pic.twitter.com/GRDzuDigUF
— The Armchair Activist (@thrmchrctvst) December 15, 2025
Fans argued that Ranveer Singh’s mimicry was a “misguided” tribute rather than an insult. One user noted, “Intentions matter. It was ignorance, not vile intentions,” while another questioned why humans are moral policing when “God never judges us for unintentional mistakes”.
Supporters pointed to the massive success of Ranveer’s new film ‘Dhurandhar’, as proof that divine favour is still with him. One fan quipped, “If Daiva was angry about Ranveer Singh mimicking it, why did it make #Dhurandhar a huge hit?”
Some comments suggested professional jealousy might be at play. With ‘Dhurandhar’ threatening to break box office records set by ‘Kantara Chapter 1’, one user claimed, "He is mad because Dhurandhar might break Kantara Chapter 1's record."
The controversy coincides with a massive box office run for Ranveer Singh. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film has raked in Rs 600 crore worldwide in just 11 days, setting new records for second-weekend collections. It features a stellar cast including Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan. A sequel concluding the story is slated for March 2026.
Rishab Shetty’s ‘Kantara’ (2022) and ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ (2025) remain the highest-grossing Kannada films after ‘KGF: Chapter 2’.
The friction began two weeks ago at IFFI Goa, where Ranveer mimicked the Daiva on stage. Despite Rishab urging him not to, the performance went ahead, leading to immediate criticism.
Ranveer subsequently issued a statement on Instagram, writing: “My intention was to highlight Rishabh's incredible performance... Actor to actor, I know how much it would take to perform that particular scene... If I've hurt anyone's sentiments, I sincerely apologise.”
Despite the apology, the debate over artistic tribute versus cultural sanctity continues to divide the internet.
