Filmmaker SS Rajamouli found himself as the target of plenty of criticism recently after he spoke about his non-belief in god at the Varanasi event, and also expressed his displeasure at others’ belief despite some massive setbacks at the event. While many took to social media to criticise the filmmaker for his convenient standards while using religious elements in his movies, an organisation named Rashtriya Varana Sena also reportedly filed a complaint against the filmmaker, for hurting Hindu sentiments.

Now, Ram Gopal Varma has chipped in on the controversy, defending SS Rajamouli and supporting his right to have a free opinion. Taking to his X page, RGV posted, “They should know that being an atheist in India is not a crime . Article 25 of the Constitution protects the right to not believe So he has every right to say he doesn’t believe as much as the venom spewers right to say they believe.”

RGV also strongly expresses his disagreement with the theory that atheist shouldn’t make films about gods or with religious iconography. He added, “Now coming to the dumb argument that “if he doesn’t believe in God why does he show God in his movies?” By that logic, should a filmmaker become a gangster to make a gangster film, become a ghost to make a horror film? “

As a concluding note, RGV opined that those criticising Rajamouli are only jealous of his success, especially because the RRR filmmaker achieved all of it without believing in god. “God is fine. Rajamouli is fine. The only ones suffering are the people who can’t understand either of them . So through Varanasi while god will add another huge fortune to  Rajamouli’s already overflowing bank balance,” he stated.

It is to be noted that not many industry folk have come out yet, expressing their opinion on the issue or to publicly support Rajamouli.