A controversy erupted on Tuesday after an FIR was filed against acclaimed director SS Rajamouli for his remarks about Lord Hanuman at a recent promotional event. The complaint was filed by members of the Rashtriya VanaraSena, who alleged that the filmmaker’s statement had hurt religious sentiments.
The incident took place on November 15 during a Globetrotter event at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, where Rajamouli’s upcoming film “Varanasi” was being showcased. Technical glitches caused a delay in the trailer launch, leading to visible frustration from the filmmaker.
During his address, Rajamouli openly expressed his disbelief in God and referred to a conversation with his father. He stated, “This is an emotional moment for me. I don’t believe in God. But my father said Lord Hanuman will take care of everything. Is this how he handles things? I got angry thinking about it.” His comment instantly sparked outrage online, with many accusing him of disrespecting the deity.
Following the backlash, the Rashtriya VanaraSena lodged a formal complaint, claiming the statement was offensive to devotees and hurt religious sentiments. Rajamouli has not responded publicly to the complaint so far.
Amid the controversy, an old 2011 tweet by the director resurfaced, where he said he “never liked Lord Ram” and preferred Lord Krishna among the avatars — further fueling debate on social media.
Rajamouli is currently working on his ambitious film “Varanasi,” featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mahesh Babu, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film is expected to release in 2027.
