Ranveer Singh is drawing flak on social media for calling the ‘daiva’ shown in the film Kantara Chapter 1 as a “female ghost”.

Ranveer and Kantara actor and director Rishab Shetty attended the closing ceremony of International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025. During the event, Ranveer praised the latter’s performance in the film and also imitated the film’s climax scene while referring to the ‘daiva’ as a “female ghost.”

However, his remarks and act did not sit well with a section of social media users, who called it insensitive and disrespectful. One comment read, “How can actors lack basic understanding of what should and shouldn’t be said? It is extremely disrespectful for people from the South that their goddess is being referred to as a female ghost.” Another wrote, “To be honest, I found it quite offensive. Ranveer should know better.” A third user commented, “It is absolute disrespect to the daivas.” Another said, “Ghost? He should have been more careful with his words — this is extremely tone-deaf.”

One of the comments read, “This is so disrespectful. She is not a ghost but a goddess herself.” Another wrote, “What an unaware and disrespectful man. His wife belongs to the same geographical region as the daiva tradition. At least show some respect.”

This controversy just comes a week before the release of Ranveer’s actioner Dhurandhar. Helmed by Aditya Dhar, the film also stars Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna and R Madhavan.