Actor Ranveer Singh recently faced backlash following his mimicry of fellow actor Rishab Shetty at the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025. During the event, Singh enacted Rishab’s character from the popular film “Kantara,” but mischaracterized the daivas as ‘ghosts’. This sparked controversy, leading Rishab to express his discomfort during the performance, prompting Singh to later file a plea with the Karnataka High Court in response to an FIR against him.
On February 24, the Karnataka High Court heard Singh’s appeal, presided over by Justice M. Nagaprasanna. Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayy, representing Singh, argued that the remarks had been misconstrued and that there was no malicious intent behind them. The court, however, highlighted the responsibility that comes with fame. It emphasized that, regardless of celebrity status, individuals should avoid insensitivity in their public comments, noting that the implications of their words can have lasting effects.
The court further remarked on the permanence of online statements, cautioning that while individuals might eventually forget, the internet maintains a record of such incidents indefinitely. Consequently, the court prohibited any coercive action from the police against Singh until March 2 while requiring his cooperation in the ongoing investigation.
The controversies surrounding the mimicry incident trace back to November 28, when Singh imitated Rishab during his appreciation speech at IFFI. Despite Rishab’s polite requests for him to stop, Singh continued the act, which escalated tensions. In response to the criticism, Singh issued a public apology, emphasizing that his intention was to honor Rishab’s remarkable performance and expressing admiration for the difficulty of that particular scene. He underlined his respect for diverse cultures and traditions within India, stating that he did not wish to offend anyone’s sentiments.