Hyderabad | November 18, 2025

Director SS Rajamouli, known worldwide for films like RRR and the Baahubali series, has landed in controversy after a remark he made about God during a promotional event led to an FIR being filed against him. The incident took place on November 15 at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, during the first glimpse reveal of his upcoming film Varanasi, featuring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran.

The event drew a massive crowd of more than 50,000 people. However, technical issues interrupted the teaser presentation, causing delays and visible frustration. When Rajamouli finally took the stage, he began by mentioning that he does not believe in God. He also shared how his father and wife, who are both devotees of Lord Hanuman, encouraged him during stressful moments, but he reacted emotionally when things went wrong. His comments, made in the heat of the moment, quickly spread online and triggered a wave of criticism.

Soon after, members of the Rashtriya Vanara Sena reportedly filed a police complaint, accusing the director of hurting religious sentiments. They argued that his public statement about Lord Hanuman was disrespectful. Rajamouli has long been open about his atheism, but the fact that the remark was made at an event related to a film connected with mythology added more fuel to the reaction.

Interestingly, the teaser of Varanasi itself includes a short visual of Lord Hanuman, inspired by the Treta Yuga. The film is expected to be a large-scale adventure that mixes ancient stories with modern themes, sending the characters across different eras and locations in search of hidden treasure.

As of now, Rajamouli has not released any statement about the FIR or the growing debate. The film Varanasi is scheduled for release in 2027, and the controversy has already created intense discussion around both the director and the project.

 Rajamouli Faces FIR After His Comment on God at Hyderabad Film Event Sparks Backlash

During a recent film event in Hyderabad, director SS Rajamouli’s emotional remark about not believing in God has created a major controversy. The comment was made at the first glimpse reveal of his upcoming movie Varanasi. Because of technical issues during the event, Rajamouli became frustrated and spoke openly about his lack of faith, even mentioning how his family, who are Lord Hanuman devotees, tried to calm him. His remarks quickly went viral, and many people felt hurt by what he said. Soon, a police complaint was filed against him for allegedly disrespecting religious beliefs.

Rajamouli has always been open about being an atheist, but this time the reaction was much stronger because the movie he was promoting includes mythological themes. Despite the backlash, he has not yet commented on the FIR. The film Varanasi, starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Prithviraj Sukumaran, is expected to release in 2027. The controversy has now put even more attention on the film and the director.