In a surprising twist, popular actor vijay deverakonda has found himself at the center of a legal and social controversy following remarks he made during the Retro pre-release event in April. His comments, intended to promote national unity and education, have sparked backlash and led to a complaint under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The controversy erupted when Vijay, while drawing a historical analogy during his speech, stated:
“Pakistanis behave like tribals did 500 years ago with the way they fight.”
This comparison, meant to emphasize the need for modern thinking and unity, was seen by members of tribal communities as derogatory and offensive. The complaint was formally filed by Nenavath ashok kumar Naik, State President of the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Communities. He alleged that Vijay's comments insulted tribal communities and deeply hurt their sentiments.
Though Vijay followed the remark by stressing the importance of education and unity — “We should stand united and move forward. education is super key.” — the damage had already been done in the eyes of many.
The actor has since issued a public apology, expressing regret over the unintended offense.
“There was absolutely no intention to hurt or target any community, especially our Scheduled Tribes, whom I deeply respect and consider an important part of our country,” he wrote.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the incident has reignited conversations about the responsibility of public figures, the sensitivity of cultural references, and the power of words spoken on influential platforms.
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