During a promotional stop for his upcoming film Peddi in Bhopal, the Telugu superstar mistakenly praised pacer Jasprit Bumrah for taking Indian football to new heights

Telugu superstar Ram Charan issued a public apology to Indian premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah late Saturday night following an on-stage mix-up during a promotional event in Madhya Pradesh. The actor, who was in Bhopal for the grand music launch of his highly anticipated pan-India film Peddi, accidentally credited the cricket icon with elevating Indian football, sparking a massive wave of reactions and memes across social media platforms.

The incident occurred during a crowded public interaction at the launch of the film’s song "Hellallallo." Ram Charan was joined on stage by co-star Janhvi Kapoor, Oscar-winning music composer AR Rahman, and actor Divyenndu. During a rapid-fire segment, the host asked the RRR star to describe prominent Indian cricketers in a few words, leading to a series of quick takes that went smoothly until Bumrah's name was brought up.

Confusion over sporting legends

Before the slip-up, Ram Charan widely praised other Indian cricket stalwarts. He described Sachin Tendulkar's career as a "long, legendary run," called former captain MS Dhoni "calm and cool," and referred to current skipper Rohit Sharma as "everybody's man." When asked about batting maestro Virat Kohli, the actor raised a clenched fist and simply said, "Fire."

However, the momentum shifted when the host asked for his thoughts on Jasprit Bumrah. Taking a brief beat, Ram Charan confidently stated into the microphone: "Jasprit Bumrah ji, I am your biggest fan. I love football, and you are taking football so ahead. Love you, sir."

The crowd, while enthusiastic, immediately noticed the sporting mix-up, and clips of the moment flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) within minutes. Netizens quickly pointed out that the star pacer—currently spearheading Mumbai Indians' attack in IPL 2026—had just been turned into a football icon.

Double slip-up in Bhopal

The sporting confusion wasn't the only awkward moment of the evening for the actor. While addressing the massive gathering from the stage, Ram Charan briefly lost track of his location, mistakenly addressing the local crowd as residents of Bihar.

"Our people of Bihar, people of Bihar, are you with me?" he asked the audience, before the event’s host stepped in to quietly correct him that he was, in fact, standing in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

A genuine human error

As the videos gained traction online, Ram Charan took to his official X account to clear the air and personally tag the Indian speedster. Acknowledging his notorious reputation for being forgetful with names—a trait his former co-stars have previously joked about—the actor chalked up the blunders to the sheer energy of the venue.

"Uff I'm genuinely so forgetful with names sometimes. Apologies to @Jaspritbumrah93 Ji for the mix-up - it was a genuine human error in the middle of all the excitement and the crowd," the actor posted. He further added, "I truly respect you and I am a huge fan of your game. You make every Indian feel proud when you consistently put batsmen on back foot."

Fans online largely rallied behind the actor, with many praising his quick humbleness. "Bro made Bumrah the legend of Indian football, but I loved how confidently he delivered it," one user commented. Others joked that the actor might have temporarily confused Bumrah with Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri amidst the noise. Bumrah, who has been managing a minor physical niggle during the ongoing T20 season, has not yet publicly responded to the post.

High stakes for Peddi

The promotional stop in Madhya Pradesh underscores the growing market for Ram Charan's films in central and northern India following the global success of RRR. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi is a sports drama exploring a man's search for identity through athletic grit.

Interestingly, the film’s recently released trailer shows Ram Charan essaying the role of a multi-sport crossover athlete, featuring sequences where he participates in cricket, traditional wrestling, and track sprinting. Produced by Vriddhi Cinemas and presented by Mythri Movie Makers, Peddi features an ensemble cast including Kannada superstar Shivarajkumar and Jagapathi Babu. Following the heavy promotional push across multiple states, the film is slated for a theatrical release on June 4.