Rana Daggubati clarifies his comment on 'big Hindi cinema heroine' and defends Sonam Kapoor

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The anticipation surrounding the upcoming Malayalam film ‘King of Kotha' reached new heights as the core team, led by Dulquer Salmaan, graced a pre-release event in Hyderabad. The event was further lit up by the presence of Telugu stars Rana Daggubati and Nani, who came to show their unwavering support for the movie and their dear friend Dulquer.

However, it was Rana Daggubati's speech at the event that truly grabbed attention within the film industry circles. During his address, he allegedly subtly took a dig at a Bollywood actor while showering praise on Dulquer. Without explicitly naming the actor, he referred to her as a "big Hindi cinema heroine." Although Rana avoided directly mentioning Sonam Kapoor's name, netizens swiftly pieced together the puzzle, considering her collaboration with Dulquer in the 2019 sports romantic drama "The Zoya Factor." Following the widespread discourse generated by his comments, Rana came forward to apologize, clarifying that his "words were misinterpreted" and acknowledging Sonam as his "friend."

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In his speech, Rana shared, "Back when we were both studying acting, Dulquer was my junior. We formed a friendship during those times. He is a very polite person." Rana continued, "Years later, he was doing a Hindi film. I won't mention the film and the producers were my friends. Since the shooting was happening closer to my house, I went to the sets to see them. He was at a corner speaking to a spot boy, who was from Kerala. A big Hindi cinema heroine was talking to her husband over the phone. It was in between takes. If it was anything urgent, it made sense, but they were shopping over the phone. Dulquer was patient. But, she forgot her lines and was distracted. If I had a bottle in my hand, I would have crushed it. But, Dulquer remained calm and gave as many takes as he was asked. He put up with the pranks played on him. I sat with the producers later and gave them an earful," as reported by India Today.

In the wake of the ensuing social media uproar, Rana took to social media to issue a heartfelt apology. He expressed, "I am genuinely troubled by the negativity that has been aimed at Sonam due to my comments, that are totally untrue and were meant entirely in a light-hearted manner." He added, "I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt apologies to Sonam and Dulquer, both of whom I hold in great esteem. I hope this clarification puts an end to any speculation and misunderstanding. Thank you for your understanding."

Directed by Abhilash Joshiy, the son of veteran filmmaker Joshiy, ‘King of Kotha' is a period gangster film that is set to hit theaters this month as an Onam release, bringing with it a blend of anticipation, star-studded support, and a promise of cinematic excellence.