Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor’s Peddi continues to create headlines, days after its theatrical debut. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the sports drama hit cinemas on June 4, 2026, and emerged as South India’s highest-grossing film of the year.
However, its OTT debut has reignited controversy, with viewers criticising the film’s portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character and certain dialogues and scenes they consider problematic. Amid the growing backlash on social media, director Buchi Babu Sana has broken his silence. He has thanked audiences for making Peddi a blockbuster, he also opened up about its digital premiere.
Peddi Director Buchi Babu Sana Thanks Audience for Supporting the Film Amid OTT Backlash
Despite the criticism surrounding Peddi’s OTT release, director Buchi Babu Sana in his note on X chose to focus on expressing gratitude to audiences who supported the film throughout its theatrical run. Taking to his social media account, the filmmaker shared a heartfelt note thanking fans for turning Peddi into one of the year’s biggest blockbusters. “Thank you. What began as a dream has now become one of the most memorable journeys of our lives. Your love, appreciation, and unwavering support have made Peddi one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. We are truly grateful,” he wrote.
Buchi Babu Sana also mentioned that the film was made with immense passion by every member of the team and that seeing it connect with millions had been the greatest reward. He also mentioned out audiences continued to visit theatres to watch the film even until its OTT premiere, adding that it a sign of the love people had shown the project.
As Peddi began streaming on Netflix, the director’s note read that that viewers watching the film on digital platforms would enjoy it just as much as those who watched it in cinemas. The film premiered on Netflix on July 9 in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.
Why Is Peddi Facing Criticism Again?
While Peddi found commercial success, its OTT release has once again brought attention to scenes that had already sparked debate during its theatrical run. Film buffs are criticising sequences in which Ram Charan’s character describes Janhvi Kapoor’s character, as well as a scene where the villain attempts to strip her before the hero intervenes, with many calling the treatment “cheap.”
Earlier, the theatrical version was also criticised for ‘romantic’ sequence showing Ram Charan’s character kissing Janhvi Kapoor’s character without her consent during a power outage. Following the backlash, Buchi Babu Sana apologised on X, stating that some visuals had been interpreted differently and stressing that the film was never intended to make women feel uncomfortable or disrespected. Despite the controversy, Peddi, which also stars Shiva Rajkumar, Divyenndu and Jagapathi Babu with music by A.R. Rahman, remains one of the year’s biggest box-office successes.