K Raghavendra Rao faces backlash over film launch clips

A film launch is usually a carefully staged celebration. Cameras flash, stars smile, and everyone pretends the awkwardness is part of the ritual.

But one short video from Hyderabad has turned that routine into a wider conversation about boundaries, power, and how casually the film industry still treats women’s discomfort.

Veteran Telugu filmmaker K Raghavendra Rao is facing heavy criticism online after clips from a recent movie muhurat ceremony went viral. The event was for director Anil Ravipudi’s new film, tentatively called #VenkyAnil5 or #NKRAR2.

A launch event turns awkward

The ceremony took place in Hyderabad on June 18. The film has drawn attention because it brings together Venkatesh, Kalyan Ram, Keerthy Suresh and Krithi Shetty.

Raghavendra Rao was invited to call action for the first shot. That is usually a mark of respect in Telugu cinema. Senior directors often bless new films this way.

The trouble began when videos from the stage started circulating online. In one clip, Rao appears to hold Keerthy Suresh’s hand while positioning her for the shot.

In another moment, he appears to touch Krithi Shetty’s shoulder and arm while guiding her pose. Another clip shows him asking male actors to place their hands on the actresses’ shoulders.

A separate video from the same event shows Rao putting his hand around Niharika Konidela’s waist. That clip added more fuel to the outrage.

None of the actors appears to have made a public statement so far. Rao and Ravipudi have also not responded publicly to the criticism.

Why the backlash spread fast

The video did not stay inside film circles for long. It moved quickly across social media, where users questioned why such behaviour still gets brushed aside as harmless.

Many viewers argued that a senior man touching actresses on stage, even during a photo call, reflects a larger industry problem. The setting matters here. This was not a private rehearsal. It happened in front of cameras, colleagues and fans.

That is why the reaction has been sharp. People are not just discussing one gesture. They are asking why women in cinema often have to absorb discomfort with a smile.

In Indian film industries, hierarchy still carries a lot of weight. A senior director can command silence without saying much. A younger actor, especially at a public event, may find it hard to object in the moment.

That is the uncomfortable part of this story. Consent is not only about intent. It is also about whether the other person feels free to say no.

Google searches follow the controversy

As the clips spread, searches for Raghavendra Rao rose online. People looked up his films, his age, Niharika Konidela and related keywords.

That pattern is now familiar. A viral clip lands on social media. Outrage builds. Then Google searches fill in the background for people who want to know who the person is.

Rao is not a small name in Telugu cinema. He has worked for decades and carries the aura of an old-school filmmaker. That history partly explains why the clips attracted so much attention.

But it also raises a sharper question. Does seniority protect old habits from scrutiny? Social media seems to be saying no, at least in this case.

Younger audiences read body language differently now. What earlier passed as “industry culture” now faces instant public judgment. That change is messy, but it is real.

The film now has two narratives

For Ravipudi’s film, the timing is awkward. The project was supposed to begin with star power and festival-release buzz.

The film is expected to aim for a Sankranti 2027 release. That is one of the most competitive windows in Telugu cinema. Big family audiences, mass entertainers and star vehicles often fight for space during the festival.

Venkatesh brings long-standing box-office pull. Kalyan Ram adds another strong Telugu cinema name. Keerthy Suresh and Krithi Shetty give the film wider visibility across southern markets.

But the launch conversation has now shifted. Instead of only discussing the cast or release plans, fans are also discussing what happened on stage.

That does not mean the controversy will define the film forever. Indian cinema has seen bigger storms pass. But first impressions matter, especially when every promotional clip travels faster than a press note.

For actresses, these moments are trickier. They must promote films, maintain working relationships and handle public attention. When a controversy centres on their discomfort, people often expect them to respond immediately.

That expectation can be unfair. Silence does not always mean approval. Sometimes it only means a person is choosing not to fight a public battle on everyone else’s timeline.

A bigger lesson for film culture

This episode is not only about one director or one video. It is about how public behaviour at industry events is now under sharper watch.

Film sets and launch stages have long operated on informal rules. Seniors guide juniors. Directors arrange actors for shots. Stars pose as instructed. Everyone plays along because the event must look smooth.

But the line between guidance and unwanted physical contact cannot stay vague anymore. A simple verbal instruction works in most cases. If someone must be moved, asking first is not difficult.

This matters beyond cinema. Workplaces across India are still learning that respect is not only about grand statements. It sits in small gestures, personal space and the right to refuse touch without drama.

For ordinary viewers, the lesson is plain. Fame does not erase boundaries. Age does not excuse behaviour. Tradition does not get a free pass just because cameras are rolling.

The film will move ahead, and the industry will likely return to promotions soon. But this clip has left a question hanging over the glitter. If public stages still make women uncomfortable, what changes when the cameras are off?