24 september 2024 : Karthi recently made a casual remark during an event for his upcoming film Meiyazhagan in Hyderabad, which inadvertently touched on the sensitive topic of Tirupati laddus, drawing the ire of actor and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Pawan Kalyan. Following Karthi’s comments, Pawan urged the film industry to avoid discussing the laddu controversy.
Karthi’s Comments
During the event, when an anchor presented various memes about Karthi and jokingly asked if he wanted a laddu, he replied with a smile, “Let’s not talk about laddus now. It’s a sensitive topic. We don’t need it.” His response elicited cheers and applause from the audience. When the anchor offered a motichoor laddu, Karthi declined, saying, “Laddu oddu (I don’t want a laddu).”
Pawan Kalyan’s Warning
Pawan Kalyan later addressed the media, cautioning the film industry against making light of the issue. He stated, “If you’re going to talk about it, do so respectfully, or don’t mention it at all. People won’t forgive jokes or memes about it. This is deeply painful for many. I saw how it was addressed at a movie event yesterday—don’t you ever dare to say that. I respect you as actors, but when it comes to Sanatana Dharma, you must think a hundred times before speaking.”
Karthi’s Apology
In response to Pawan’s remarks, Karthi took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his regrets, stating it was never his intention to offend anyone. He referred to the incident as a “misunderstanding” and wrote, “Dear @PawanKalyan sir, with deep respect to you, I apologize for any unintended misunderstanding caused. As a humble devotee of Lord Venkateswara, I always hold our traditions dear. Best regards.”
