SS Rajamouli is the most successful director of Indian cinema who attained global success. Despite being the biggest commercial film director in Indian cinema, Rajamouli still faces casteist remarks from a section of the native Telugu community. A few Tollywood followers and media outlets attribute him to the Kamma community and are making derogatory comments about him.
When asked about the caste system in India by a leading Hollywood media outlet, Rajamouli gave an interesting response. He stated that while the caste system exists in India, it is not something that he believes in or practices. His work also does not reflect any casteist beliefs.
“My family members are against the caste system. In fact, I didn’t even know what my caste was until I went to my college. My father came down to fill down my form and there was a column about our caste. He refused to fill it. That was the first time I came to know about the caste system” Rajamouli said.
It is unfortunate that even after delivering global blockbusters, Rajamouli is still subjected to such hateful comments. It is important to recognize the harm that casteism can cause and to work towards eradicating it from our society. The film industry, which has a significant influence on society, can play a crucial role in promoting social harmony and equality.