Highlights:
- FIR registered at Bengaluru’s High Grounds Police Station
- Complaint alleges insult to Chavundi Daiva and Daiva worship traditions
- Case stems from remarks made at IFFI Goa in November 2025
- Videos of the incident went viral on social media
- Court hearing scheduled for April 8 in Bengaluru
An FIR has been registered against Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh at Bengaluru’s High Grounds Police Station over allegations that he insulted Hindu religious sentiments and disrespected Karnataka’s traditional Chavundi Daiva worship. The case relates to remarks and actions allegedly made by the actor during the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa on November 28, 2025.
According to an NDTV report, the complaint was filed by Bengaluru-based lawyer Prashant Methal, who accused Singh of making objectionable comments and gestures that mocked sacred elements of the Daiva tradition practiced in coastal Karnataka. The FIR has been registered under Section 175(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following a court directive.
The complaint alleges that during an on-stage interaction at IFFI, Ranveer Singh ridiculed rituals associated with Panjurli and Guliga Daiva, revered spirit deities in the region, by mimicking their movements in a vulgar and exaggerated manner. The complainant further claimed that the actor referred to Chavundi Daiva, a deeply revered guardian deity symbolizing divine feminine power, as a “female ghost,” a remark said to have hurt the religious sentiments of devotees.
The case has now been forwarded to the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court in Bengaluru, with the next hearing scheduled for April 8. Advocate Methal had earlier filed a private complaint before the Additional Judicial Magistrate on December 27, 2025. On Friday (23), the court directed the police to formally register an FIR and initiate proceedings.
The controversy stems from Singh’s appearance alongside actor-director Rishab Shetty, the creator and lead actor of the critically acclaimed Kannada film Kantara. While praising Shetty’s performance, Singh reportedly said, “That was an outstanding performance, especially when the female ghost enters your body,” referring to a climactic scene rooted in Daiva worship traditions. He then went on to mimic the character on stage, drawing laughter from the audience but also sharp criticism online.
In another video that later surfaced on social media, Singh was seen continuing the mimicry even after stepping off the stage, despite Rishab Shetty repeatedly gesturing for him to stop. The clips quickly went viral, triggering backlash from religious groups and cultural organizations, who accused the actor of trivializing sacred traditions.
This is not the first legal complaint filed against Singh over the incident. On December 2, 2025, the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti complained Panaji, Goa, accusing the actor of hurting Hindu religious sentiments and demanding legal action as well as a public apology.
Following the backlash, Ranveer Singh issued a public apology through his official Instagram account. In his statement, he said he intended to highlight Rishab Shetty’s “brilliant performance” in Kantara and expressed deep respect for India’s diverse cultures and traditions. “If anything I said has hurt anyone’s sentiments, I sincerely apologize,” he wrote.
The case adds to ongoing debates around artistic expression, cultural sensitivity, and public accountability in India’s entertainment industry.
