Even as Peddi continues its strong run at the box office and the team celebrates the film’s success across centres, a notable absence at a key event has become a talking point online. While fans gathered
in large numbers in Hyderabad to cheer the cast and makers, one of the film’s leading stars was nowhere to be seen.
Janhvi Kapoor did not attend Peddi’s success meet on Monday, June 8, amid the continuing debate surrounding certain scenes featuring her in the Ram Charan-starrer.
The celebratory event was attended by Ram Charan, director Buchi Babu Sana, Jagapathi Babu and other members of the film’s team. Videos from the evening showed enthusiastic fans turning up in huge numbers to celebrate the film’s performance at the box office.
Also Read:Peddi Director Admits Janhvi Kapoor’s Few Scenes Were ‘Misleading’: ‘We Have Removed Them’
However, many social media users quickly noticed that Janhvi Kapoor was absent from the gathering. Her non-appearance sparked fresh speculation online, particularly because it came at a time when discussions around her role in the film continue to dominate social media conversations.
Also Read:Janhvi Kapoor’s Peddi Controversy: Can Scenes Be Changed After A Film Releases In Theatres?
So far, the actress has neither addressed her absence nor commented publicly on the controversy.
The discussion began shortly after Peddi hit theatres, when several viewers expressed discomfort over certain scenes involving Janhvi’s character. Critics on social media argued that parts of the film reduced the actress to a glamour element and objectified her rather than giving her a substantial role in the narrative.
The criticism grew rapidly online, with users debating whether mainstream commercial cinema continues to rely on outdated depictions of female characters.
The issue gained further attention after old comments made by Janhvi about the treatment of women in cinema resurfaced online. Many social media users began questioning whether the actress herself would have been comfortable with some of the scenes that eventually appeared in the film.
As the backlash intensified, the conversation expanded beyond Peddi, turning into a wider debate about the portrayal of women in commercial Indian cinema.
With criticism continuing to mount, director Buchi Babu Sana eventually addressed the matter publicly. The filmmaker issued an apology on social media and acknowledged audience concerns. He also confirmed that certain scenes from the film would be edited following the backlash.
His response came after several days of online criticism and calls from viewers asking the makers to reconsider portions of Janhvi’s track in the film.
Speaking to Screen, Buchi Babu spoke about Janhvi Kapoor’s role and the backlash, and said, “In my opinion, a lot of people misread Janhvi Kapoor’s track as unnecessary in an otherwise good story.” Speaking about the approach of the film, the director shared, “In this film, I went a little radical because Peddi comes from a remote place, somewhere far away in the hills. I wanted to show the rawness and later correct it in the end, saying that this guy is this way because of his upbringing and atmosphere. For such a character, he thinks he has to marry the woman he loves.”
At the Hyderabad event, Ram Charan spent time interacting with fans and thanked audiences for the overwhelming support shown to Peddi since its release. Interestingly, several reports claimed that while acknowledging the film’s team and supporters, the actor did not specifically mention Janhvi Kapoor during his address, something that further fueled online discussions about her absence.
However, neither Ram nor the makers have commented on the speculation.
Actor Jagapathi Babu, who plays a pivotal role in the film, also addressed the audience during the celebrations. While he did not directly refer to the controversy, many interpreted his remarks as an indirect response to the criticism surrounding the film. He reportedly thanked those who had given Peddi “bad reviews,” a statement that quickly began circulating across social media platforms.
Before Peddi arrived in theatres, Janhvi had been one of the film’s most visible faces during promotions. She travelled extensively with the team and participated in multiple events across cities to promote the project.
Since the controversy erupted, however, the actress has largely stayed away from public discussions surrounding the issue. She has not issued a statement, responded to the criticism, or addressed the director’s decision to edit portions of the film.
