Actress Nayanthara has issued a heartfelt apology in response to the controversy surrounding her film, ‘Annapoorni,’ which recently faced accusations of hurting Hindu sentiments. The apology comes days after an FIR was registered against the film, leading to its removal from the Netflix platform.
Directed by Nilesh Krishnaa, ‘Annapoorani’ initially had a theatrical release on December 1, 2023, but failed to gain significant attention or box office success. The film follows the story of Annapoorani (Nayanthara), an aspiring chef from a conservative Brahmin family facing hurdles due to orthodox beliefs.
The controversy stems from scenes depicting Annapoorni's struggles, particularly one where her classmate persuades her to eat meat by referencing Lord Ram's alleged meat consumption. Former Shiv Sena leader Ramesh Solanki filed a police complaint, accusing the film of being 'anti-Hindu' and hurting sentiments. Consequently, the film was pulled from Netflix.
In her apology posted on Instagram, Nayanthara expressed regret for any unintended hurt caused by the film, emphasizing the team's lack of intention to offend sentiments. She acknowledged the unexpected removal of a censored film from the OTT platform and apologized to those whose feelings were affected.
The actress clarified that the film's intention was to uplift and inspire, not cause distress. Nayanthara, a devout believer who frequently visits temples, stated that intentionally hurting sentiments was the last thing she would do. She extended sincere and heartfelt apologies to those touched by the controversy.
Meanwhile, on the work front Nayanthara, has a robust lineup of projects until 2026. With movies like ‘NT 81,’ ‘Test,’ ‘Auto Jaani,’ ‘Mannanggatti,’ and ‘Lion,’ she is set to have a busy schedule with three releases in 2024, one in 2025, and the final one in 2026.
Additionally, she also has ‘Lady Superstar 75,’ touted as the highest-budget Tamil movie she has undertaken. The film is backed by ZEE Studios and directed by Nilesh Krishna, the director of Annapoorani’.