Kannada actor Pramod Panju, known for ‘Lenin’ and his Telugu debut in ‘Salaar’, has ignited a social media storm. At a recent Guntur event, he controversially referred to Pan-India star Prabhas as ‘Vaadu’, a term that quickly went viral and drew widespread criticism. Realizing his misstep, Panju promptly issued an apology on X, with the video now circulating widely and fueling intense discussion.
Key Points
Panju calls Prabhas ‘Vaadu’ at event! Stirs outrage.
‘Vaadu’ video goes viral! Panju apologizes on X.
Cultural misstep? Panju blames language barrier.
‘Lenin’ actor’s shocking gaffe despite blockbuster praise!
Pramod’s ‘Vaadu’ Remark Goes Viral
Pramod Panju, whose performance in Akhil Akkineni‘s blockbuster film ‘Lenin’ garnered praise, has unexpectedly landed in the news after controversially referring to Pan-India star Prabhas as ‘Vaadu’. This Kannada actor, who debuted in Telugu with ‘Salaar’, made the remarks at a Guntur event, which subsequently went viral. Realizing his mistake, he has since apologized on X.
While Akhil Akkineni finally received his biggest blockbuster with ‘Lenin’ after a long wait for a hit, proving his mettle at the box office, Pramod Panju, who played Akhil’s friend in the film, also garnered praise for his performance. Pramod, a Kannada actor, had previously debuted in Tollywood with the Prabhas-starrer ‘Salaar’, where he played Baachi Rajamannar, brother of Varadaraja Mannar (Prithviraj Sukumaran). He has now further impressed Telugu audiences with his pivotal role as Vasanth in ‘Lenin’, even earning accolades from Akkineni Nagarjuna.
The controversy arose during the ‘Lenin’ Blockbuster Celebrations event in Guntur. Pramod thanked the Telugu audience for their support and praised both Prabhas and Akhil. He spoke highly of Prabhas’s hospitality, how well he treats co-artists, and his love for food, adding that he observed similar qualities in Akhil. While these compliments were well-received, his repeated use of the term ‘Vaadu’ when referring to Prabhas and Akhil became a topic of intense discussion.
Apology on X Calms Storm
Videos of his speech quickly went viral on social media, eliciting mixed reactions from fans. Some observers commented that such linguistic errors often occur when non-Telugu speaking actors attempt the language, suggesting that Pramod’s use of ‘Vaadu’ was unintentional. They also praised him for making an effort to learn and speak Telugu. However, others were quick to troll him for the perceived disrespect.
Pramod became aware of the controversy somewhat late, after some youths from Vijayawada brought his comments at the ‘Lenin’ event to his attention. Realizing his mistake, he promptly posted an apology on X. He stated, “Even though everyone took it lightly, respecting my director Murali Kishore Abburi, brother Akhil Akkineni, and our darling Prabhas sir… thanks to Vijayawada boys for correcting my Telugu. I apologize if I have hurt anyone’s feelings by using ‘Vaadu’ and ‘Vaallu’.”
With Pramod Panju acknowledging his mistake and issuing an apology, the controversy has temporarily subsided. Fans hope that he will be more careful with his language in the future.
Looking Ahead
With Panju’s apology, the immediate controversy subsides. However, this incident powerfully reiterates that public figures, especially towards our beloved stars, must weigh their words carefully. The audience’s deep respect for their heroes demands similar regard in return. A crucial lesson for the industry, we hope.
