Ranbir Kapoor Apologises for Dussehra Speech Slip at Ramayana Event, Quotes Rockstar Song

Ranbir Kapoor has addressed the attention surrounding his recent Dussehra speech, apologising for a verbal slip while promoting his upcoming film Ramayana: Part One. Speaking at a musical event in Chennai on October 21, the actor clarified what he had intended to say about the victory of good over evil and used a line from his 2011 film Rockstar to acknowledge the mistake.

The clarification followed an appearance at a Dussehra celebration in Kolkata on October 20, where his wording while discussing the festival's significance drew attention online. Rather than leave the remark unexplained, the actor addressed it directly at the next promotional event.

What Did Ranbir Kapoor Say at the Kolkata Event?

While speaking about Dussehra and its connection with the Ramayana, Ranbir attempted to explain the familiar message that truth and goodness ultimately triumph over evil.

However, he used the word ant, meaning “end”, where he intended to use jeet, meaning “victory”. His sentence consequently sounded as though truth and goodness would ultimately come to an end, reversing the message he was trying to communicate. The resulting clip circulated on social media and prompted criticism and jokes about the wording.

The mistake was a verbal one, but the context made it particularly noticeable. Ranbir is playing Lord Ram in the upcoming cinematic adaptation, a story closely associated with the triumph of righteousness over evil.

How Ranbir Addressed the Controversy in Chennai?

At the Chennai event the following day, Ranbir acknowledged the incident and apologised to the audience. He clarified that his intended message was that however powerful evil may become, truth and goodness will ultimately prevail.

He then recalled his collaboration with A. R. Rahman on Rockstar and quoted the line, “Jo bhi main kehna chahoon, barbaad karein alfaaz mere.” The lyric, which expresses frustration at words failing to communicate what someone intends, provided a light-hearted way to explain his verbal mistake while reiterating his apology.

The moment connected his current promotional campaign with an earlier milestone in his film career. Rockstar, directed by Imtiaz Ali and featuring music composed by Rahman, remains one of the notable collaborations in Ranbir's filmography.

Why the Incident Became a Talking Point?

The reaction to Ranbir's speech illustrates how closely a public statement can be scrutinised when it involves a culturally significant occasion and a major film release.

Dussehra is associated with the victory of good over evil, and the Ramayana is central to that narrative. The actor's intended message was therefore familiar to the audience, but the wording of the sentence created an unintended contradiction.

The fact that Ranbir was speaking while promoting a film in which he portrays Lord Ram added another layer to the discussion. Still, the available reporting supports describing the incident as a verbal slip followed by an apology; it does not establish that the actor intended to express the opposite of the festival's message.

What We Know About Ramayana: Part One?

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part One stars Ranbir as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana. The film also features Ravi Dubey as Lakshman, with a wider ensemble supporting the two-part cinematic adaptation.

The Chennai gathering was organised around the film's music, with Rahman performing at the event. The composer has previously worked with Ranbir on Rockstar and Tamasha, making the actor's reference to their earlier collaboration especially relevant to the occasion.

Ramayana: Part One is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026.

The Celebrity Hour Take

Ranbir's response offers a straightforward lesson in public communication: when an unintended statement creates confusion, a clear correction can help restore the intended meaning.

The incident also demonstrates why context matters when clips from public appearances circulate independently. A verbal mistake can sound very different from the point a speaker is trying to make, particularly when a single word reverses the meaning of an entire sentence.

By addressing the remark at the next event, Ranbir clarified his intention and apologised rather than allowing the wording to stand unexplained. The focus can now return to the film itself, its music and the wider challenge of bringing the Ramayana to the big screen.

Sources & Verification

This report is based on published coverage of Ranbir Kapoor's Kolkata Dussehra appearance and his subsequent clarification at the Chennai Ramayana event. The central details and quoted remarks are corroborated by multiple entertainment-news reports. The interpretation of the incident as a verbal slip follows the actor's own explanation.