Ruhani Sharma responds after her film Agra gets leaked online

Filmmaker Kanu Behl’s Agra, which was screened at Cannes 2023, was leaked earlier this month. A few portions of the film, including sexually intimate scenes featuring Ruhani Sharma, were leaked online. Now the actor has issued an official statement, expressing her sentiments about the same.

Taking to her X page, Ruhani noted, “To say I'm disappointed is an understatement. It's heartbreaking to see our months of hard work, dedication, and passion being disregarded in this way. What's even more disheartening is how quick some are to judge without understanding the blood, sweat, and tears that go into bringing such a project to life.”

Ruhani also mentioned that Agra has been acclaimed on an international level and received recognition for its attempts to push boundaries of world cinema. 

Addressing her critics who passed moral judgments on the actor for doing the aforementioned ‘bold scenes’ for the film, Ruhani stated that she is incredibly proud of the film, adding, “For those who may not fully grasp or appreciate this style of filmmaking, I ask for your respect. Art isn't always meant to be easy or comfortable; it's meant to challenge, to evoke emotion, to make us think.” She further noted, “Let's uplift and celebrate the diversity of cinema instead of tearing down the hard work of artists.”

Filmmaker Rahul Ravindran came forward in support of the actor, stating on his X page, “It’s been one of the best experiences of my life getting to work with her and witnessing her immaculate grace and talent. And I’ve never been more proud of her… We’re fortunate that we have brave actors like Ruhani willing to explore such complex scripts.”

Ruhani Sharma, who prominently works in Telugu cinema, was last seen in the Hindi comedy film Blackout. Her last prominent film in Telugu movies was the slice-of-life drama Sriranga Neethulu, which released in April.