Actor Nayanthara Apologizes for Hurting Sentiments of Hindus in Her Movie ‘Annapoorni’

New Delhi: Actor Nayanthara has apologized for hurting the sentiments of Hindus in her movie ‘Annapoorani: Goddess of Food’. She faced ire of a section for allegedly disrespecting Lord Ram and promoting ‘love jihad’ in this movie.

In a post on Instagram, Nayanthara apologized. She wrote:

“I am writing this note with a heavy heart and a genuine desire to address the recent turn of events concerning our film, ‘Annapoorni.’ Crafting ‘Annapoorni’ was not just a cinematic endeavor but a heartfelt pursuit of inspiring resilience and instilling the spirit of never giving up. It aimed to mirror life’s journey, where we learn that obstacles can be overcome with sheer willpower.

In our sincere attempt to share a positive message, we may have inadvertently caused hurt. We did not expect the removal of a censored film, previously showcased in theatres, from the OTT platform. My team and I never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments and we understand that the gravity of this issue. Being someone who wholely believes in God and frequently visits temples accross the country, it is the last thing I would intentionally do. To those whose feelings we’ve touched, I extend my sincere & heartfelt apologies.

The intention behind ‘Annapoorni’ was to uplift and inspire, not to cause distress.

Over the last two decades, my journey in the film industry has been guided with a singular intention – To spread positivity & foster learning from one another.

With sincere regards,

Nayanthara”

‘Annapoorani’, was released in theatres on December 1. Several police complaints were filed against the movie when it began streaming on Netflix on December 29. Netflix preferred to remove it from the OTT platform.

The complainants objected to scenes in the movie, including one where Nayanthara, who plays the daughter of a temple priest, offers namaz wearing a hijab before making biryani. A friend of the character played by Nayanthara “brainwashes” her into cutting meat, “claiming that Lord Ram and Goddess Sita also consumed meat”.