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Buchi Babu Sana Responds to Criticism Over Janhvi Kapoor’s Role in Peddi
Director Buchi Babu Sana has broken his silence regarding the controversy surrounding Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal in Peddi. While the film has become a major box-office success, several viewers have criticized the way Kapoor’s character was presented, accusing the filmmakers of reducing her role to a glamour element.
Speaking about the backlash, Buchi Babu admitted that he did not expect audiences to react so strongly to certain scenes. He explained that his intention was to create a light-hearted romantic track between Ram Charan’s character, Peddi, and Janhvi Kapoor’s Achiyyamma. According to the director, the scenes were designed to portray a playful love story rather than objectify the female lead.
However, he acknowledged that some portions failed to convey the intended message and accepted responsibility for the criticism. He assured audiences that he would be more careful in future projects and strive to create better representations of female characters.
The criticism largely centers on scenes where the camera focuses on Janhvi Kapoor’s physical appearance while dialogue highlights her personality and emotions. Another controversial sequence involves a public confrontation that many viewers felt was poorly written and reinforced problematic stereotypes.
The debate has also revived discussions about Buchi Babu’s earlier film Uppena, which faced criticism over its portrayal of romance and gender dynamics. Despite the controversy, Peddi has performed exceptionally well at the box office, recording one of the biggest openings of 2026.
The film collected nearly ₹70 crore on its opening day and continues to attract strong audience interest. Starring Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, Vijay Sethupathi, Prakash Raj, and Boman Irani, Peddi tells the story of a cricketer from an unrecognized village fighting for identity and recognition. While its commercial performance remains impressive, the debate over its portrayal of women continues.
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