Dhurandhar actor Ranveer Singh’s Kantara mimicry issue: Karnataka HC says actor was reckless
The Karnataka High Court provided interim relief to actor Ranveer Singh in the case, but reprimanded him saying he had no right to act in the manner that he did
Last Updated: 07.38 PM, Feb 24, 2026
In November last year, at the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India, Dhurandhar actor Ranveer Singh used that stage to declare his admiration for actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty’s work in Kantara Chapter 1. Despite being told by Rishab not to mimic the daiva possession with the ‘primordial scream’ and outstretched tongue, he did exactly that on the stage, which had enraged netizens. Ranveer had also referenced to the daiva as a female ghost.
What did the Karnataka High Court tell Ranveer Singh?
Subsequently, a Bengaluru-based lawyer had filed a case against the actor for hurting religious sentiments. The Karnataka High Court has taken cognizance of the fact, but directed authorities to not take any coercive action against him until the next hearing. The court noted that as an influencer, Ranveer should not do anything to hurt sentiments and that what he did was reckless and had no right to do what he did. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 2, 2026.
Following the backlash to his antics at the International Film Festival of India, Ranveer had tendered an apology on social media. Ranveer claimed that his sole intention was to highlight Rishabh's incredible performance in the film. “Actor to actor, I know how much it would take to perform that particular scene in the way that he did, for which he has my utmost admiration. I have always deeply respected every culture, tradition and belief in our country. If I've hurt anyone's sentiments, I sincerely apologise,” he wrote.
At the time, even Rishab had also come under fire, with netizens stating that he had not done enough to stop Ranveer and had not condemned it later either. Visuals of Rishab laughing at Ranveer’s mimicry had gone viral then.
Dhurandhar FAQs:
Q: Where to watch Dhurandhar on OTT ?
A: Dhurandhar dropped on on Netflix on January 30, 2026, after a very successful theatrical run. The sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge will release in theatres on March 19, 2026 and subsequently on JioHotstar (via OTTplay Premium also)
Q: Who is the director of Dhurandhar?
A: The film Dhurandhar is written, directed, and co-produced by Aditya Dhar, who is known for his work on the film Uri: The Surgical Strike.