GROWJUST INDIA

New Delhi, June 9, 2026: In the fast-evolving landscape of Indian cinema, filmmakers are learning that high-octane star power and massive box office collections no longer shield a project from critical scrutiny regarding on-screen sensitivity. The latest high-profile project to face this reality is the Ram Charan-starrer sports drama Peddi, directed by Buchi Babu Sana. Following its theatrical release on June 4, 2026, the film quickly became a massive commercial success, roaring past the ₹230 crore mark globally within its first few days. However, alongside the box office triumph, a massive wave of controversy erupted online, centered squarely on the hypersexualized depiction and problematic romantic arc of the female lead, Achiyyamma, played by Janhvi Kapoor.

Responding swiftly to the intense criticism from film critics and audiences alike, director Buchi Babu Sana issued a public apology and confirmed that corrective measures have been implemented. The filmmaker revealed that the production team has officially trimmed and deleted the controversial sequences from the theatrical cut, admitting that “a few shots turned misleading.”

The Spark of Controversy: What Triggered the Backlash?

While the second half of Peddi won praise for its emotional core and engaging sports-centric narrative—focusing on a cricketer-for-hire fighting for the identity of remote villages in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district—the first half left many viewers deeply uncomfortable. The romantic track between Ram Charan’s titular character, Peddi, and Janhvi Kapoor’s Achiyyamma became a focal point of intense debate across social media platforms.

The primary criticisms leveled against the film included:

• The Male Gaze and Objectification: Viewers expressed disappointment over how Achiyyamma was introduced to the audience. Instead of establishing her character, personality, or role in the village ecosystem, the camera lingered excessively on her body for several minutes before finally revealing her face. Critics argued that this framed her purely as a visual object of desire.
• Issues of Consent and Boundaries: The progression of the romance track further strained audience sensibilities. In several sequences, the protagonist openly expresses a desire to cross physical boundaries without Achiyyamma’s consent.
• The Normalization of Harassment: A particularly contentious scene involved the protagonist using a power cut as an opportunity to force a kiss upon her despite her visible reluctance and protests. The narrative choice to resolve this toxic dynamic with her eventually reciprocating his affection drew widespread condemnation for seemingly romanticizing non-consensual behavior.

Director Buchi Babu Sana Responds and Apologizes

As the online criticism intensified and transcended beyond Telugu cinema circles into a national conversation, Buchi Babu Sana chose to address the issue directly. Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Uppena director shared an extensive note acknowledging the audience’s discomfort and offering a sincere apology.

The filmmaker emphasized his belief that storytellers must remain mindful of evolving perspectives and sensitivities, concluding his message by thanking the viewers who shared their views honestly and constructively.

“A Few Shots Turned Misleading”: The Logic Behind the Edits

In subsequent media interactions, Buchi Babu Sana shed more light on his original creative intentions and where he felt the execution missed the mark. He explained that the radical nature of the protagonist’s character was a deliberate narrative choice meant to reflect a specific upbringing, which was supposed to be corrected by the end of the film.

“In this film, I went a little radical because Peddi comes from a remote place, somewhere far away from the hills,” the director explained. “I wanted to show the rawness and later correct it in the end, saying that this guy is this way because of his upbringing and atmosphere. For such a character, he thinks he has to marry the woman he loves. In this process, a few shots turned misleading. We have taken corrective measures to remove them, and we have removed them.”

The director also admitted that a large section of the audience had ultimately misread Janhvi Kapoor‘s track as an unnecessary addition to an otherwise solid sports drama because of how those specific scenes were presented. He confessed that he had completely misjudged how the sequences would be perceived, stating that the original intent was merely to showcase a “playful romance.” Moving forward, the filmmaker promised to exercise greater care and ensure better representation of female characters in his future scripts.

Mixed Reactions From Netizens and the Industry

The decision to cut the scenes and issue a public apology has triggered a polarized response from the film community and netizens.

Many moviegoers and industry trackers lauded the filmmaker for his humility and willingness to listen to the audience. Proponents of the edits argued that acknowledging mistakes and taking immediate corrective action sets a mature precedent for mainstream Indian cinema, demonstrating that filmmakers can be accountable to their audience without compromising the overarching success of their projects.

Conversely, a more skeptical segment of the audience questioned how such blatantly objectifying and non-consensual sequences passed multiple stages of writing, shooting, and editing to begin with. Critics on social media pointed out that the team should have recognized the regressive nature of the romance track during production rather than reacting only after public outrage. Discussions also linked this to a broader pattern in the director’s filmography, recalling minor criticisms aimed at his debut national-award-winning film Uppena (2021), which also featured a highly intense, obsessive romantic angle.

Box Office Resiliency Unaffected by the Cuts

Despite the significant pre-release and post-release turbulence surrounding Janhvi Kapoor’s role, Peddi remains an absolute juggernaut at the global box office. The sports drama’s financial momentum has barely flinched, bolstered significantly by Ram Charan’s massive pan-India stardom, high-octane action sequences, and a powerful second-half narrative.

With the trimmed version now playing in theaters, the makers hope that the focus will shift entirely back to the film’s core message of resilience, sportsmanship, and rural identity. The swift removal of the controversial scenes marks a defining moment in recent Tollywood history, highlighting a growing cultural shift where even the biggest commercial blockbusters must align with contemporary standards of respect and consent on screen.