Actor Ranveer Singh is currently basking in the success of Dhurandhar, which has broken all box-office records. However, ahead of the film's release, Ranveer Singh was embroiled in a controversy, wherein he apparently recreated a scene from Kantara that hurt religious sentiments. Many netizens and devotees took it as him mocking and insulting the sacred Bhoota Kola tradition practiced in Coastal Karnataka.
FIR filed against Ranveer Singh
During the IFFI event in Goa, even Rishab Shetty was present, and he took it sportingly. Days after the brutal backlash, Ranveer Singh apologised. At that time, the matter was almost resolved and settled. However, months later, on Wednesday, a fresh case against Ranveer has been lodged.
An FIR has been registered against Ranveer Singh, and he has been booked on charges of insult to religious sentiments during a public event, police said on Thursday.
The complainant stated that he is a devotee of 'Chavundi Daiva,' a revered guardian spirit worshipped in Bhoota Kola rituals, which is also his family deity and has been worshipped since childhood.
He alleged that the actor imitated the divine expressions of Panjurli/Guliga Daiva in a "crude, comical, and derogatory manner" and verbally referred to the sacred Chavundi Daiva as a "female ghost."
Despite an alleged request not to perform the Daiva act, the accused enacted an emotional Chavundi Daiva scene from Kantara: Chapter 1 on stage, the lawyer said.
Ranveer Singh was booked under Sections 196, 299, and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, by the High Grounds police on Wednesday after Bengaluru-based lawyer Prashanth Methal (46) filed a complaint.
There’s a reason why today’s actors should be kept away from promotions . They end up creating controversy ?♂️#Dhurandhar #RanveerSingh pic.twitter.com/ROynqG8YzG
— Matineeguy (@MKDJobsNew53) November 29, 2025
An Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACJM) court referred the private complaint for investigation.
"Chavundi Daiva is not a female ghost but a powerful and fierce guardian spirit symbolising justice, protection, and divine feminine energy, and holds deep religious and cultural significance in the coastal region," Methal said in his complaint.
Referring to the deity as a ghost was described in the complaint as "blasphemous and a serious insult to Hindu religious beliefs and practices." The complainant alleged that the accused, being a widely followed public figure, performed the act on an international platform with knowledge that it would hurt religious sentiments.
The complaint stated that a video of the alleged performance went viral on social media, causing mental agony, anger, and resentment among devotees. The complainant said he became aware of the incident after viewing the video on social media.
"The act of the accused was deliberate, intentional, and malicious, intended to outrage religious feelings," the complainant alleged.
When Ranveer apologised for his act
Taking to Instagram stories, Ranveer had penned, "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 apologize."
At the time, Ranveer Singh's act had stirred controversy, and the actor faced backlash, but no FIR was registered, and the matter appeared to have subsided.
The filing of the FIR in January 2026 has now revived the issue as a fresh legal development, coinciding with Dhurandhar's digital release. With the film set to stream on Netflix, the question once again arises whether the actor will issue another apology to prevent further escalation or allow the matter to proceed through legal channels.
