The evening of March 4 saw social media erupt with the SRK – Ram Charan controversy. It is widely known that the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant were graced by some of the biggest celebrities from around the globe. The pictures and videos from the event took over the internet for the past two days. One moment that created a storm on the internet was when the three Khans danced to RRR’s famous song, “Naatu Naatu.”
While it was truly unique to witness the three Bollywood superstars dancing to the song, another highlight was when Shah Rukh Khan invited Ram Charan to join them on stage. However, the way Shah Rukh Khan called out Ram Charan has received criticism from a section of Telugu fans on social media. Shah Rukh Khan called out to Ram Charan, saying, “Bhend idly vada Ram charan kahan hai tu.” Zeba Hassan, the makeup artist of Ram Charan and Upasana, has condemned this manner of addressing Ram Charan. She expressed her disappointment by stating, “I walked out after this. So disrespectful towards a star like Ram Charan.”
Many have commented that Shahrukh Khan’s choice of words, referring to Ram Charan as “Idly” and “Vada”, is insensitive. It is being ridiculed as a stereotype against South Indians in Bollywood. The incident has sparked a heated discussion on the internet, with many suggesting that it reflects Bollywood’s insecurity after South Indian actors gained international fame and even won an Oscar. However, another section of netizens is supporting Shahrukh Khan by saying he just uttered a dialogue from one of his movies funnily and not to demean Ram Charan. Even a few Mega Power Star Ram Charan fans support SRK in this issue as they believe that both the stars share a great rapport.
