Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has apologised for his remarks at a Dussehra celebration in Kolkata after videos of his speech circulated widely on social media. Addressing the controversy at an event in Chennai on Wednesday, the actor explained that he had experienced a “slip of tongue” and clarified the message he intended to convey. His response came a day after he spoke at the grand celebration organised by Salt Lake Sanskritik Sansad at Central Park in Salt Lake, Kolkata, which centred on the theme Ram Er Ayodhya – Ram Ki Ayodhya.
During his speech at the Dussehra event, Ranbir spoke about the triumph of good over evil, saying, “Burai kitni bhi takatvar kyun na ho, aakhir mei ant sachai aur achai ki hi hoti hai.” Following the circulation of clips online, the wording of his statement became a talking point among social media users. The actor subsequently chose to address the matter publicly and explain what he had meant to say.
At the Chennai event, Ranbir apologised for the incident and clarified his intended message. “I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the incident that happened yesterday. I was at the Dussehra event, and I had a slip of tongue. What I meant to say is, ‘Burai chahe kitni bhi takatvar kyun na ho, aakhir mei jeet achai aur sachai ki hoti hai’,” he said. His clarification returned the focus to the central message of Dussehra: the victory of goodness and truth over evil.
Adding a lighter moment to the clarification, Ranbir also referenced his film Rockstar and his collaboration with legendary music composer AR Rahman. Quoting a line from the film’s music, he said, “Jo bhi kehna chahun, barbad karein alfaz mere.” The playful reference brought a familiar touch to the conversation as the actor addressed the misunderstanding. Ranbir was accompanied at the Chennai event by his Ramayana co-star Sai Pallavi.
The Kolkata celebration had also been attended by producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari and actor Ravie Dubey. Ranbir's upcoming film Ramayana has generated considerable anticipation, with the actor portraying Lord Rama opposite Sai Pallavi as Sita. The ambitious adaptation also features Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Directed by Tiwari, the project is planned as a two-part cinematic epic.
Produced by Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana is scheduled for a worldwide release in two instalments. Part One is slated to arrive on November 5, 2026, while Part Two is planned for Diwali 2027. The film is expected to release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam and will also be presented in IMAX. As Ranbir moves ahead with the film’s promotional activities, his apology has brought his Kolkata remarks back into focus, while his clarification emphasises the message of truth and goodness he intended to share.