“Achchai Ka Ant”? Ranbir Kapoor’s Viral Dussehra Gaffe And Apology Explained
What Ranbir Kapoor said at Kolkata’s Dussehra event, why it went viral and how he apologised with a ‘Rockstar’ reference in Chennai.
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A festive speech, one misplaced Hindi word and a clip that quickly took on a life of its own: Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Ramayana’ promotions acquired an unexpected talking point this week. While speaking about Dussehra in Kolkata, the actor accidentally reversed the festival’s familiar message about good defeating evil. A day later, he addressed the mistake in Chennai, apologised and reached into his own filmography for a particularly apt explanation. With Ranbir Kapoor preparing to appear as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic, the moment attracted extra attention.
Here is what he said, what he intended and how ‘Rockstar’ entered the conversation.
What Happened At The Kolkata Dussehra Event?
On October 20, 2026, Ranbir Kapoor attended a Dussehra celebration in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area as part of the ‘Ramayana’ promotional campaign. His co-star Yash was also present, along with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Ranbir used his address to speak about the festival’s significance and the strength of truth and goodness.
The trouble came towards the end of that thought. In the widely circulated clip, he said: “Aakhir mein ant sachchai aur achchai ki hi hogi.” The wording conveyed that truth and goodness would ultimately meet their end, reversing the message he was trying to deliver.
The surrounding speech concerned Dussehra and the contest between good and evil. It was this onstage address that prompted the subsequent clarification, with Ranbir later identifying the incorrect word himself.
What Was The Difference Between ‘Ant’ And ‘Jeet’?
The entire misunderstanding turned on a small substitution with a very large effect. Ant means “end”; jeet means “victory”. Ranbir Kapoor intended to say that however powerful evil might become, truth and goodness would ultimately win.
Replacing victory with end made the sentence point in the opposite direction. That explains why the clip was so easily noticed and shared: listeners were hearing a familiar festive message arrive at an unfamiliar conclusion.
His correction in Chennai restored the intended meaning. In his explanation, the message remained the triumph of truth and goodness over evil; he had stumbled while expressing it.
Why Did The Clip Attract So Much Attention?
The footage prompted jokes and criticism online, with some users linking the error to Ranbir Kapoor’s portrayal of Lord Ram. That casting connection made the moment especially conspicuous during a campaign built around the epic.
There is an obvious irony in a Bollywood actor promoting ‘Ramayana’ accidentally muddling a sentence about good overcoming evil. But the wording and his subsequent explanation need to be read together. The Bollywood star acknowledged that he had misspoken and supplied the sentence he had meant to deliver. His apology therefore matters to the account just as much as the viral clip.
What Did Ranbir Say In His Apology?
On October 21, the ‘Ramayana’ team appeared at the film’s musical celebration and full-album launch at the Chennai Trade Centre. Ranbir Kapoor used the occasion to address what had happened the previous day.
“I had a slip of the tongue,” he said, before supplying the correct sentence: “Burai chahe kitni bhi taqatwar kyun na ho, aakhir mein jeet sachchai aur achchai ki hogi.” He explained that truth and goodness would ultimately prevail and apologised for the error.
The evening also gave him an opportunity to acknowledge A.R. Rahman, whose music had already accompanied him in ‘Rockstar’ and ‘Tamasha’. Ranbir described their association on Ramayana as an opportunity of a lifetime. That personal musical connection became the bridge to the lighter moment in his apology.
How Did ‘Rockstar’ Become Part Of The Explanation?
Ranbir Kapoor recalled ‘Jo Bhi Main’, the song from his 2011 Bollywood film ‘Rockstar’, and quoted: “Jo bhi main kehna chahoon, barbaad karein alfaaz mere.”
The reference neatly captured his frustration with words failing to communicate what he meant. He followed it with another apology, bringing a touch of self-deprecating humour to the acknowledgement.
Composed by A.R. Rahman, sung by Mohit Chauhan and written by Irshad Kamil, the song was an especially fitting choice at a music-led event featuring Rahman himself. For viewers familiar with the track, the reference supplied an explanation they could immediately recognise – and probably hear playing in their heads.
What Else Happened At The Chennai Launch?
The apology was one moment in a larger musical showcase hosted by Amazon Music, with Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, Ravie Dubey and Rakul Preet Singh joining the team.
A children’s choir opened with the Tamil version of ‘Jai Jai Ram’, and Rahman later performed with Chinmayi Sripaada. The programme also featured music from the film, including ‘Ravana Tandav’, while Sachet Tandon delivered a live performance of ‘Main Ram’.
Sai Pallavi praised Ranbir Kapoor’s enthusiasm for Tamil and South Indian cinema and spoke about the inner calm he brought to playing Ram. She also acknowledged the affection Yash receives across language markets. Those exchanges placed the evening’s focus back on the cast’s collaboration and the film they are bringing to audiences.
When Does ‘Ramayana’ Release And Who Is In It?
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the first installment of ‘Ramayana’ is scheduled to release on November 5, 2026, with Part Two planned for Diwali 2027.
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi plays Sita, and Yash portrays Ravana. The principal ensemble also includes Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman have collaborated on the music. Produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, in collaboration with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, the two-part adaptation has a substantial creative team behind it.
For Ranbir Kapoor, the immediate promotional detour began with a single word. His response was to correct that word publicly, apologise and borrow a little musical help from a familiar friend.
