Kantara Controversy: Rishab Shetty Finally Breaks His Silence On Ranveer Singh Kantara 'Daiva' Mimic

Rishab Shetty, the actor and director behind the Kantara film series, has addressed the recent controversy surrounding Ranveer Singh's mimicry of a ritual scene from Kantara. The incident occurred during the closing ceremony of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where Singh's actions sparked criticism for being insensitive to religious sentiments.

While not directly naming Ranveer Singh, Shetty expressed his discomfort regarding the performance of sacred traditions on public stages. Speaking at a recent Behindwoods event in Chennai, Shetty emphasized that while Kantara is a work of cinema, the Daiva element holds deep spiritual significance. He stated, "That makes me uncomfortable... While much of the film is cinema and performance, the Daiva element is sensitive and sacred. Wherever I go, I request people not to perform it on stage or mock it. It is emotionally deeply connected to us".

The controversy arose after Ranveer Singh imitated the Daiva sequence from Kantara at IFFI, a scene inspired by rituals associated with Goddess Chamundadevi. This act was perceived by many as a trivialization of a deeply spiritual practice. Social media users voiced their disapproval, with some calling for boycotts of Singh's future projects. Some viewers were also critical of Shetty for seemingly laughing along and not objecting to Singh's actions during the event.

Shetty highlighted the extensive research and cultural sensitivity that went into creating Kantara: Chapter 1. He explained that the team took great care to authentically portray local customs and rituals, aiming to educate audiences about their true meaning rather than presenting them as mere entertainment. The intention was to preserve the cultural essence of these traditions and showcase their importance.

Following the backlash, Ranveer Singh issued a public apology on December 2nd, 2025, via his Instagram account. He clarified that his intention was to praise Rishab Shetty's performance and that he holds immense respect for all cultures, traditions, and beliefs in the country. Singh wrote, "My intention was to highlight Rishab's incredible performance in the film. As an actor, I know the hard work it takes to perform that particular scene the way he did, and I have immense respect for him. I have always deeply respected every culture, tradition, and faith of my country. If I have hurt anyone's sentiments, I sincerely apologize".

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about artistic expression, cultural responsibility, and the limits of performance when dealing with faith and tradition. It raises questions about how to appropriately represent culturally sensitive elements in cinema and the responsibility of artists to respect the traditions they portray.

Kantara, both the 2022 film and the 2025 prequel Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, are directed and written by Rishab Shetty and produced by Hombale Films. Shetty reprises his role as the protagonist in Kantara: Chapter 1. The films are considered not just mythological action films, but also deeply emotional experiences for South Indian audiences.