Ranveer Singh apologizes after mimicking Kantara Daiva sequence: 'My intention was to highlight Rishab's incredible performance'

Ahead of Dhurandhar's release, Ranveer Singh made headlines for all the wrong reasons. He faced backlash for imitating a Kantara scene at the closing ceremony of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, calling the sacred Daiva a "female ghost" and mimicking it on stage despite Rishab Shetty's apparent warnings, as per reports. Now, Ranveer clarified the controversy, saying that he wanted to highlight Rishab's incredible performance in the film. 

Ranveer Singh on Kantara Daiva mimick

On December 2, taking to his Instagram Story, Ranveer Singh addressed Rishab Shetty's Kantara Daiva mimicking. He apologised and wrote, "My 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."

More about the Kantara Daiva mimic controversy

At the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Ranveer Singh imitated the climax scene from Kantara: Chapter 1. While mimicking the scene, he referred to the Daiva Chavundi as a "female ghost" and described the possession as "when the female ghost gets inside your body."

He displayed exaggerated gestures and expressions while miming the scene, even asking the audience if they would like to see him in a potential Kantara 3. According to reports, Rishab Shetty politely asked Ranbir not to imitate Daiva before going on stage, but Singh continued to do so.

Many viewers felt that this performance was a deeply sacred ritual of Kantara and a mockery of the gods, which is rooted in the cultural beliefs of coastal Karnataka. The clip of the act went viral, leading to significant backlash on social media. Many users labelled the performance "insensitive," "disrespectful," and demanded an apology.

Also read: Dhurandhar OTT partner revealed! Here's when and where you can stream Ranveer Singh's espionage action thriller after its theatrical run

Ranveer Singh's work front

Ranveer is gearing up for the release of Aditya Dhar's espionage thriller, Dhurandhar. The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Dhurandhar is reportedly inspired by real-life intelligence operations. It will hit cinemas on December 5, 2025.

FAQs:

Q: When is the Dhurandhar OTT release date?

A: The tentative OTT streaming release date for Dhurandhar on Netflix is January 30, 2026.

Q: Which streaming platform will Dhurandhar stream on?

A: Dhurandhar will stream exclusively on Netflix following its theatrical run, as the streaming giant has acquired the film's digital rights.

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.