Director Gopichand Malineni, who made his Bollywood debut with the recently released action drama Jaat, has finally spoken out about the growing controversy surrounding a scene in the film that has been accused of hurting religious sentiments. The scene, which shows actor Randeep Hooda inside a church with a crucifix visible in the background, sparked backlash from sections of the Christian community and led to an FIR against the film’s makers and lead actors.
In his first public response to the controversy, Malineni stated in an interview with Mid-Day, “No filmmaker wants to hurt any people or community. We want to entertain them.” He explained that while the film’s trailer had passed initial scrutiny by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the board later requested changes — specifically, to blur background elements deemed sensitive in the final film. These changes, he confirmed, were implemented before the official release.
Legal Action and Public Apology
The controversy escalated when a formal complaint was filed by a man named Viklav Gold at the Jalandhar Cantonment police station, leading to an FIR under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complaint named not only Malineni but also actors Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, and producer Naveen of Mythri Movie Makers. The complainant alleged that the film contained elements that disrespected Jesus Christ and Christian religious practices, and questioned the timing of the film’s release during the Holy Week.
In response to the backlash, the makers issued an official apology and confirmed that the scene in question had been removed from all versions of the film. “Our intention was not to hurt any religious sentiments. We deeply regret it and have taken quick action by deleting the scene from the film. We sincerely apologize to everyone whose beliefs have been hurt,” the statement read.
Film’s Reception and Sequel Announcement
Jaat, which released on April 10, 2025, stars Sunny Deol, Randeep Hooda, Regina Cassandra, and Saiyami Kher in key roles. Despite the controversy, the film has performed well at the box office, grossing over ₹89 crore globally in just a few days. Riding on its success, the makers have already announced Jaat 2, with Malineni and Deol returning for the sequel.
The incident brings to light the tightrope that filmmakers walk between creative storytelling and cultural sensitivity in India’s diverse and pluralistic society. While the controversy has stirred debate, the swift action and open apology from the filmmakers may help in cooling tensions as the franchise moves forward.
