A case has been registered against actor Ranveer Singh at Bengaluru’s High Grounds Police Station for allegedly mocking the deity featured in the film Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1. He is accused of deliberately and maliciously hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity and hatred in society.
The alleged mimicry incident
The FIR relates to an incident from 28 November 2025, during the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Ranveer Singh allegedly mimicked a scene involving the revered deity from Rishab Shetty’s film Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1, referring to the Chavundi deity as a ghost, which drew criticism at the time.
According to NDTV, the FIR was filed by Bengaluru-based lawyer Prashant Methal (46), who claimed that the actor’s performance insulted the sacred Chavundi deity, which is worshipped in coastal Karnataka. The complaint also stated that the actor mocked sentiments associated with the Panjurli and Guliga deities in a crude and absurd manner.
Legal provisions invoked
The case has been registered under Sections 196, 299, and 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), citing that the actor’s act was deliberate, malicious, and intended to hurt religious sentiments while fostering social discord. The FIR also refers to a video of the performance shared on Instagram on 2 December 2025 by the Karnataka State Billiards Association account, which was circulated further by a user under the handle Brief Chaat.
Religious context
The FIR emphasizes that the Chavundi deity is a revered goddess in Karnataka’s coastal region, symbolizing divine feminine power. Portraying the deity as a ghost, according to the complainant, constitutes a serious affront to religious sentiments and caused mental distress to devotees.
Next hearing
The matter has been transferred to the First Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court in Bengaluru, with the next hearing scheduled for 8 April 2026.
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