The Ranveer Singh Kantara IFFI controversy has ignited significant backlash on social media, with the Bollywood star being accused of cultural insensitivity. The incident occurred during his stage act at the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa.
The Ranveer Singh Kantara IFFI controversy centres on the actor mimicking a scene from Kantara Chapter 1 and referring to the revered Daiva character Chaundi as a “female ghost.” His impression, which involved crossed eyes and a rendition of the film’s “primordial scream,” drew laughter from filmmaker Rishab Shetty but has since triggered a wave of criticism online.
Many users found the act, part of which included him joking, “Anybody here want to see me in Kantara 3? Tell this guy,” to be disrespectful towards the traditional Daiva customs portrayed with great reverence in the film. One social media user criticized the actor’s public persona, stating, “Ranveer should start acting like an A-list actor, not chapri in public… these things he does in public make him look like a clown.”
The Ranveer Singh Kantara IFFI controversy highlights ongoing discussions about the portrayal of regional cultural and spiritual symbols in mainstream Bollywood discourse.