The event, attended by fans of actor Mahesh Babu and members of the Telugu film industry, saw multiple failed attempts to run the teaser. Rajamouli stepped onto the stage to apologise and, while explaining his frustration, said he does not believe in God. He added that the situation reminded him of his father’s belief that Lord Hanuman always supports those in trouble.
Rajamouli told the audience that although he personally lacks strong faith, his father relied on Hanuman’s guidance and his wife is also a devotee. He recounted that when the glitch occurred, he questioned whether divine intervention truly helps, and even jokingly expressed brief annoyance at his wife for her unwavering faith. When the teaser failed a second time, he remarked that he wanted to see whether his wife’s Hanuman would “help again.”
Clips from the event went viral, with several social media users accusing the director of disrespecting religious beliefs and demanding a public apology. Some described his comments as insensitive, given the cultural and spiritual significance of the deities mentioned.
Rajamouli has not issued a statement addressing the controversy directly, but he did post an acknowledgment of the technical problems on X, thanking fans for their patience and discipline despite the cold weather and long queues at the venue.
The production team has not announced whether a revised teaser launch will be scheduled. The film Varanasi, headlined by Mahesh Babu, remains one of the most anticipated Telugu releases of the year.
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