By Kavita Mistry 
Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli has sparked controversy after declaring at a high-profile Varanasi event that he does not believe in God, a comment that has ignited public outrage and sparked an FIR. The director made the startling admission amid a visibly emotional speech, blaming technical glitches and leaks for rattling him and questioning his faith.
Speaking at the “GlobeTrotter” event in Hyderabad for his upcoming epic Varanasi, Rajamouli voiced frustration over the show’s technical failures and described how the problems made him reflect deeply on his own beliefs. He said that critics calling him out for his perceived lack of faith didn’t understand where he was coming from. “I don’t believe in God,” he announced, visibly choked up.
He added that his father once told him, “Lord Hanuman is behind all this, guiding us.” But after experiencing the glitches, he questioned whether that guidance was real. “Is this how he helps us?” Rajamouli asked the audience. The director also referred to his wife’s devotion, saying she treats Hanuman like a friend — a statement he admitted made him angry during the turmoil.
Rajamouli’s blunt confession has raised eyebrows across social media. Critics have slammed him for rejecting faith publicly, particularly given how deeply his films like Baahubali and RRR draw from Hindu mythological imagery. Some see his comment as a stark contrast to his storytelling, while others defend him, saying personal faith is separate from art.
At the event, Rajamouli clarified his stance on religion: He identifies not as a devout Hindu, but as someone who embraces Hindu dharma — a philosophical and ethical tradition — rather than organized religion. He argued that even though he doesn’t believe in God in a conventional sense, he remains inspired by the moral universe and epic narratives of ancient Indian texts.
His style of spirituality isn’t new. In previous interviews, Rajamouli has spoken about wrestling with religious themes. He once said he gravitated toward texts like the Ramayana and Mahabharata not because of literal belief, but because he saw their emotional and moral depth as a source of cinematic richness. He revealed that he had drifted away from traditional religious practices after exploring philosophical works — including Ayn Rand’s novels — which deeply influenced his worldview.
However, not everyone is taking his remarks lightly. A group called Vanara Sena has filed a police complaint, accusing Rajamouli of insulting Hindu religious sentiments with his denial of faith. The backlash reflects the thin line Rajamouli walks: he is a director whose work celebrates mythology, yet he publicly questions the very beliefs those stories draw from.
For his part, Rajamouli has expressed regret over the glitches that marred the event, but stood by his views. “This was an emotional moment for me,” he told the audience. As Varanasi continues to draw attention, his admission has become a focal point — forcing audiences to grapple with the dissonance between his mythic art and personal ideology.
Whether this controversy will affect the film’s rollout remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Rajamouli’s honesty about his spiritual skepticism is ringing loudly, sparking a debate on faith, modernity, and the personal convictions of one of India’s most visionary directors.