While Peddi continues to perform strongly at the box office, the film has sparked online debate over the portrayal of Achiyyamma, played by Janhvi Kapoor.
Addressing the criticism, director Buchi Babu Sana admitted he was surprised by the strong reactions to the film’s central romance and did not expect audiences to take issue with it.
In a conversation with Screen, the director said, “I had not anticipated that the scenes would be perceived so negatively by audiences. We’ll be more careful and make better representations.”
The director clarified that the team’s intention was very different from how some viewers perceived the relationship on screen. According to him, the romance between Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor was conceived as a lighthearted and playful love story, not one that would make audiences uncomfortable.
Since the release of Peddi, the film has faced criticism for its portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor’s character, Achiyyamma. Many viewers objected to scenes involving objectification and assault and Janhvi Kapoor as since acknowledged that the role may not have resonated as intended.
Peddi has drawn criticism for a controversial romance track in which the male lead repeatedly ignores Achiyamma’s consent, including a scene where he kisses her without permission. Many viewers have argued that the film romanticizes behavior that amounts to assault, sparking widespread debate on social media.