Rana Daggubati reacts to language row in the South over Kamal Haasan’s Kannada-Tamil remark: ‘Actors are not the ones to advocate for the way society lives’

Rana Daggubati is all set to reprise his role in the OTT series 'Rana Naidu', directed by Karan Anshuman. The upcoming season delves deeper into the complexities of family ties and emotional baggage.Rana Daggubati has recently addressed the ongoing language row in the South, connected to Kamal Haasan’s ‘Kannada-Tamil’ remark.In a conversation with India Today, Rana opened up about his character’s continued inner turmoil, how society often misjudges people, and the importance of moving forward amidst public discourse. His co-stars Kriti Kharbanda, Abhishek Banerjee, and director Karan Anshuman also joined him in the conversation.A Shift in ToneResponding to questions about the show’s seemingly more restrained trailer this time—especially when compared to the raw and expletive-laden first season—Rana said the change stems from the evolving setting and character dynamics. “In season 2, you are dealing with another family. You are dealing with the Oberois now. There’s a certain class to the problem. The language is organic to what happens to these characters,” Rana explained.Life in Shades of GreyWhen asked about his earlier comment regarding the ‘harsh’ world his character Rana Naidu inhabits, the Baahubali actor offered a nuanced view of the real world as well. He emphasised that the world isn't simply black and white—everyone lives in shades of grey. People often make assumptions without truly knowing others. Navigating life is tough, and ultimately, one must take charge and resolve their own issues.Weighing In on the Language Row in the SouthIn light of the recent controversy around Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life not releasing in Karnataka, Rana was asked to comment on the increasing polarisation around language and culture. “Now, social media has become a place to make an opinion. Earlier, you didn’t have that. Anything gets touchy and political quite quickly,” he noted.Artistes and Public ResponsibilityTouching on whether artistes should address such socio-political matters, Rana made it clear that the responsibility shouldn't rest solely with film personalities. “If the media and the news, and people become smarter—and understand that actors are not the ones to advocate for the way society lives—it will be a better place. I think you should look at scholars, politicians, and learned men and women to lead the way in society,” he said.“You’ll never bring a poet to the same stage. Neither do people speak those languages. If there’s a poet in Marathi who’s written some fabulous poems, we wouldn’t bring them and honour them like we do with film stars. If the lens turns towards more important and current things, the country would become a much better place,” he further added. On the work front, Rana Daggubati was recently seen in the Rajinikanth starrer 'Vettaiyan' where he played an antagonist role. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan's 'Thug Life' is getting mixed reports from the audiences.Rana Daggubati will be soon seen in the second season of the crime thriller 'Rana Naidu', which is set to premiere on June 13, 2025. The show stars Rana alongside Venkatesh and Arjun Rampal, with a strong supporting cast including Surveen Chawla, Kriti Kharbanda, and Abhishek Banerjee.