Ranveer Singh sparks row for imitating Rishab Shetty’s Kantara on IFFI stage, mistakes ‘daiva’ for ‘female ghost’

Goa: Actor Ranveer Singh is facing criticism online after a video from the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 went viral, showing him referring to the daiva in Kantara Chapter 1 as a “female ghost” while praising filmmaker-actor Rishab Shetty’s performance.

Ranveer and Rishab attended the ceremony on Friday in Goa. Onstage, Ranveer lauded Rishab’s role in the film, but his description stirred controversy. In the viral clip, Ranveer is heard saying, “I watched Kantara Chapter 1 in theatres, and Rishab, it was an outstanding performance, especially when the female ghost (Chamundi daiva) enters your body — that shot was amazing.”

He then proceeded to imitate the film’s climax sequence, prompting laughter from Rishab. Ranveer also asked the audience whether they wanted to see him in Kantara 3 and urged them to “convey the message” to Rishab.

The moment has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with users calling Ranveer’s remark disrespectful to Tulu culture and the sacred tradition of daiva worship.

Reacting on Reddit, one user wrote, “How come actors lack this basic understanding of what should said and what shouldn’t be. It might be so disrespectful for the people down south that their goddess/devi is being referred as some female ghost...”

Another user questioned whether Rishab would address the controversy, saying, “Will rishabh put out a statement saying what ranveer did was offensive to the culture of tulu nadu? Or does he only get offended when normal people imitate it?”

A third user added, “Even foreigners who know nothing about the culture behave respectfully and conduct with good manners to avoid hurting others feelings.”

Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 is written and directed by Rishab Shetty and produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda under the Hombale Films banner. Starring Rishab Shetty, Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah, the film serves as a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, exploring the origins of the Buta Kola ritual and the ancestral conflicts central to the saga.

Set in pre-colonial coastal Karnataka, the film blends folklore, spirituality and action to expand on the themes of man’s relationship with nature and the divine.

Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 is currently the second-highest grossing Kannada film of all time, the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025, and ranks among the highest-grossing Indian films ever made.