"Every woman deserves to be respected": Buchi Babu Sana apologises amid 'Peddi' backlash, promises changes to controversial scenes
Hyderabad, June 6
Director Buchi Babu Sana has responded to the ongoing criticism surrounding his recently released film Peddi, which has faced backlash on social media over allegations that it oversexualizes actress Janhvi Kapoor.
While lead stars Janhvi Kapoor and Ram Charan have not publicly reacted to the controversy, Buchi Babu shared a statement on X addressing the concerns raised by viewers. The filmmaker said the team has taken the feedback seriously and will make changes to the portions that have drawn criticism.
Speaking about the concerns and stressing that cinema should never make anyone feel "uncomfortable" or "disrespected," Buchi Babu said, "As a filmmaker, I believe cinema should entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences. It should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected. We have heard the feedback regarding certain scenes in Peddi and have taken it seriously."
The director further said that it was never the intention of the makers to objectify any woman and offered an apology to those who felt hurt by the scenes in question.
Expressing his respect for women and acknowledging the concerns raised by audiences, he wrote, "I have always had immense respect for women, both on and off screen, and it was never our intention to objectify or disrespect any female character. If any part of the film has been perceived that way, we respect those sentiments, understand the concerns being raised, and sincerely apologize."
Buchi Babu also confirmed that the team has decided to make changes after reviewing the feedback and modify the "concerned portions" of the film. He said filmmakers have a responsibility to stay mindful of changing audience expectations and sensitivities.
"After reviewing the feedback, we have decided to make changes to the concerned portions. Cinema grows through its connection with audiences, and as storytellers, we have a responsibility to be mindful of evolving perspectives and sensitivities," he wrote.
Produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru and co-produced by Ishan Saksena, Peddi was released in cinemas worldwide on June 4, 2026.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I haven't watched the movie yet, but if the director is apologizing, that means something was seriously wrong. Our cinema needs to evolve—just because it's a commercial film doesn't mean we can show women however we want. Good move, Buchi Babu. At least he's not being stubborn like some other directors.
As someone who follows Indian cinema from abroad, this is refreshing to see. Back home in the US, we still have similar debates about objectification in movies. Accountability matters everywhere. Hope the changes are meaningful and not just token edits to save face.
I appreciate the apology but let's be honest—this should have been caught during the scripting or editing stage itself. Why wait for public backlash to do the right thing? Also, Janhvi Kapoor deserves better roles than being reduced to just glamour. She has talent, use it!
Bollywood and Tollywood both need this reality check. The way women are shown in so many films is cringe-worthy. Buchi Babu at least had the courage to apologize—most directors would have just ignored or fired back at critics. Respect for that. Now let's see the actual changes.
As a woman who loves Telugu cinema, I'm tired of defending these kinds of scenes. We want good stories, not unnecessary angles that make us cringe in theatres. Thank you Buchi Babu for listening. Now I might actually go watch the movie after the edits. 🙏
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