Acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli, the creative force behind global hits like RRR and the Baahubali franchise, is now embroiled in controversy after making comments questioning God during the title reveal event for his upcoming epic, Varanasi. The director’s frustrated remarks, delivered amidst technical glitches, have led to a police complaint from a religious outfit.
The event took place on November 15 at Ramoji Film City, where over 50,000 fans and industry veterans gathered for the first glimpse of Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. When technical issues repeatedly delayed the teaser presentation, a visibly emotional Rajamouli took the stage and shared his exasperation, opening up about his personal beliefs.
Director Questions Divine Intervention
Rajamouli, who has consistently identified as an atheist despite his films’ heavy use of Indian epic traditions and spiritual imagery, expressed his anger at the technical failure. He recounted a conversation with his father and wife regarding their faith in Lord Hanuman, framing his frustration as a challenge to divine assurances.
The director’s words quickly circulated online, leading to immediate social media backlash from users who interpreted the comments as disrespectful to Lord Hanuman and Hindu sentiments.
FIR Filed for Hurting Religious Sentiments
Following the intense public reaction, members of the Rashtriya Vanara Sena filed a police complaint against the filmmaker, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments. The complaint marks a significant escalation of the online debate into a formal legal matter.
Rajamouli’s full statement, made during the event, was, “I don’t have much faith in gods. This is an emotional moment for me. I don’t believe in God. My dad came and said Lord Hanuman will take care of things for me. After the glitch happened, I raised my voice at him, saying, ‘Is this how he leads me?’ My wife is a big admirer of Hanuman. She treats the God like her friend and talks to him. I expressed my anger at her too, saying, ‘Is this how he does things?’”
The irony of the situation is stark. The teaser for Varanasi—a globe-trotting adventure blending mythology and modern storytelling—includes a brief, significant glimpse of Lord Hanuman in a sequence inspired by the Treta Yuga, hinting at the mythological roots of the film’s quest for hidden treasure.
Rajamouli has not yet released a statement regarding the police complaint or the growing backlash. Varanasi, featuring a star-studded cast, is currently slated for a 2027 release.
