Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli’s highly anticipated “GlobeTrotter” event on November 17, held to announce the title of his next film as ‘Varanasi’ and unveil its first glimpse featuring Mahesh Babu and Priyanka Chopra, was marred by controversy. A technical glitch delayed the presentation, leading an emotional and frustrated Rajamouli to make remarks about his atheism and Lord Hanuman that have triggered widespread social media backlash and a police complaint.
A lot of people felt this way after the speech #SSRajamouli & Many felt the way you mentioned #Hanuman was unnecessary especially coming from you.#MaheshBabu fans were surprised to hear that kind of statement if the team wasn’t ready, why bring God into it. That’s what… pic.twitter.com/nBybYgbxBo
— The South Cinemaa (@southcinemaaaa) November 15, 2025
Addressing the delay caused by the technical failure, Rajamouli shared his personal belief, stating, “I don’t have much faith in gods. This is an emotional moment for me. I don’t believe in God. My dad came and said Lord Hanuman will take care of things for me. After the glitch happened, I raised my voice at him, saying, ‘Is this how he leads me?’ My wife is a big admirer of Hanuman… I expressed my anger at her too, saying, ‘Is this how he does things?’”
The remark, made despite the director’s body of work often drawing heavily on Hindu mythology, including the ‘Varanasi’ teaser itself which hints at connections to the Treta Yuga and the Ramayana, was quickly criticized.
Social media users immediately slammed the director for what they perceived as a disrespectful comment, with many questioning his choice of words over a technical issue. Comments circulated, demanding an apology and accusing him of “cashing in on mythological stories” while being an atheist.
The controversy escalated when members of the Rashtriya Vanara Sena filed an official complaint against Rajamouli at the Saroornagar police station in Hyderabad. The complaint alleges that his statement hurt Hindu religious sentiments. While police are currently investigating the matter, the news of the FIR has amplified the debate.
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The ‘Varanasi’ event, which also saw the attendance of actors like Prithviraj Sukumaran, Namrata Shirodkar, Sitara Ghattamaneni, and Shruti Haasan, was intended as a grand reveal but has been overshadowed by this religious controversy. The film, slated for a 2027 release, is described as a mythological adventure thriller.
