Ram Gopal Varma backs Raja Saab heroines, takes on Sivaji over moral policing

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma sparked a strong online debate after publicly backing the female leads of Prabhas’s upcoming film The Raja Saab amid a controversy surrounding comments on women’s clothing.

Taking to social media, Varma praised Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan and Riddhi Kumar for wearing outfits of their choice at the Raja Saab promotional event and for not giving importance to what he described as “moral barkings” by actor Shivaji and his supporters. Calling the actresses “three heroes,” the filmmaker said their confidence amounted to a “ tight face slap ” to those he labelled as “ villains ,” triggering widespread reactions.

The controversy traces back to Shivaji ’s remarks at the pre release event of another film, where he made objectionable and derogatory comments about women’s attire and morality. His statements were widely criticised as misogynistic and regressive, leading to backlash across social media and from members of the film fraternity. Shivaji later issued an apology, admitting that he had used inappropriate language and words that he should have avoided.

At the Raja Saab event, the three actresses appeared in styled outfits, which quickly became a talking point online. Their appearance was seen by many as a statement against moral policing and the constant scrutiny faced by women in some people’s public eye. The discussion gained further momentum as fans and celebrities debated whether women should be judged for their clothing choices at professional events.

Adding to the wider context, recent Raja Saab promotional events have also raised concerns about crowd management and safety, especially after Nidhhi Agerwal was earlier surrounded by fans during a public appearance. The actress later spoke against victim blaming narratives, stressing that a woman’s clothing should never be linked to how she is treated.

Varma’s outspoken post once again brought issues of misogyny, personal freedom and freedom of expression into the spotlight. While many supported his defence of the actresses’ right to choose, others criticised the sharp tone of his comments. The episode underlined how celebrity events continue to reflect deeper social tensions around gender, morality and autonomy in the film industry.