Since Rangeela Days Ram Gopal Varma Defends His Controversial War 2 Tweet About Kiara Advani:

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV), known for his unfiltered and often polarizing social media presence, has finally addressed the backlash regarding a deleted tweet about actress Kiara Advani. The controversy erupted following the release of the 'War 2' teaser, which featured a brief bikini shot of the actress—a first for her career.

In a recent interview with journalist Vickey Lalwani on March 5–6, 2026, Varma remained unapologetic, citing his long history of being vocal about beauty in cinema.

The Controversial Tweet: What RGV Wrote

Shortly after the War 2 teaser dropped in May 2025, RGV posted a still of Kiara Advani with a caption that many found objectifying:

"Instead of our countries and societies, if the war between Hrithik and Jr NTR is on who gets her [bikini], then 2 will be a bbuster."*

The post was deleted within hours after intense trolling and criticism from fans who labeled the remark "crass" and "indecent."

RGV’s Defense: A "Backhanded Compliment"

When asked about the incident a year later, Varma claimed he barely remembered the exact wording but stood by the sentiment.

The Teaser's Intent: RGV argued that if a filmmaker puts a "beautiful girl in a bikini" in a trailer, it is specifically intended to "provoke" a reaction. He claimed his tweet was simply an honest response to that provocation.

The "Rangeela" Connection: Varma reminded critics that he has been this way since the mid-90s. "Even from Rangeela days, I never keep my comments about beautiful women under the thing... I was always open about it even when I talked about Sridevi," he stated.

Refusal to Change: The director made it clear that while his filmmaking style might evolve, his personality will not. He described the deleted post as a "backhanded compliment" rather than an insult.

War 2: A Landmark for Kiara Advani

Despite the social media noise, the War 2 teaser remains a massive talking point for Kiara Advani’s career milestones:

First YRF Film: Her entry into the prestigious Yash Raj Films Spy Universe.

First Action Role: Moving away from romantic dramas to high-octane stunts.

First On-Screen Bikini: A personal milestone the actress herself celebrated on Instagram as one of her many "firsts" for this project.

The film, directed by Ayan Mukerji and starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, is scheduled for an August 14, 2025 release (as per the teaser timeline).