Days after her film “Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food” faced accusations of hurting Hindu religious sentiments, actress Nayanthara issued an apology on Instagram. The film was removed from the OTT platform Netflix and an FIR was filed against it for allegedly disrespecting Lord Ram, promoting “love jihad,” and offending Hindu sensibilities.
In her statement, Nayanthara expressed regret for any unintentional offense caused:
“While striving to share a positive message, we may have inadvertently caused hurt. We understand the seriousness of this issue and deeply regret the film’s removal from the OTT platform, despite its prior theatrical release. My team and I never aimed to offend anyone’s religious beliefs.”
She expressed her respect for Hinduism and her own personal faith:
“As someone who deeply believes in God and visits temples across the country, I would never intentionally cause offense. To those whose feelings we have touched, I offer my sincere and heartfelt apologies.”
Following accusations of hurting Hindu sentiments in her film “Annapoorani: The Goddess of Food,” actress Nayanthara has issued a statement expressing regret for any unintentional offense caused. This apology comes after the film’s removal from the OTT platform Netflix and the filing of FIRs against it.
The intention behind ‘Annapoorani’ was to uplift and inspire, not to cause distress, Nayanthara stated. She emphasized her long-standing commitment to spreading positivity and fostering learning through her work.
Annapoorani,” released in theaters on December 1st, tells the story of a young woman from a conservative background pursuing her culinary dreams. However, specific scenes depicting Nayanthara’s character offering prayers in a hijab before cooking and a friend’s claim that Lord Rama and Sita consumed meat have sparked controversy. Critics have also accused the film of promoting “love jihad,” a term often used to demonize interfaith relationships.
Zee Entertainment, the film’s co-producer, has also issued a written apology to the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu nationalist organization affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The apology assures the VHP that the film was never intended to offend religious sentiments and that it will not be re-released until edited to remove the controversial scenes.