Nora Fatehi Addresses ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’ Controversy From 'KD: The Devil'

Actor says she had no knowledge of the Hindi lyrics that sparked backlash, urging audiences to hold filmmakers accountable rather than performers.

Team THR India
By Team THR India
LAST UPDATED: MAR 19, 2026, 12:30 IST|4 min read
Nora Fatehi
Nora Fatehi

Actor Nora Fatehi has responded to the controversy surrounding a song from the upcoming Kannada film KD: The Devil, saying she had no knowledge of the lyrics that later prompted widespread criticism online.

The track in question, originally released in Kannada as “Sarse Ninna Sarse”, was later dubbed into multiple languages. Its Hindi version, titled Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke, drew backlash on social media over what some viewers described as explicit or inappropriate lyrics. The Hindi version was subsequently taken down following the criticism.

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In a video posted to her social media accounts, Fatehi said the song had been filmed three years ago and that she had agreed to participate as part of a large-scale project featuring a prominent cast. The film stars Dhruva Sarja in the lead role alongside actors including Sanjay Dutt, Shilpa Shetty, V Ravichandran, Ramesh Aravind and Reeshma Nanaiah.

Fatehi said she did not understand Kannada and relied on the film’s team to explain the meaning of the lyrics during filming. According to the actor, the translation provided to her at the time did not appear inappropriate. She also said she believed the song was linked to the popular track Khal Nayak Hoon Main from the 1993 film Khal Nayak, which starred Dutt.

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The controversy intensified after the Hindi version of the song appeared online. Fatehi said she had not approved the Hindi lyrics, the dubbing, or the release of promotional material associated with that version. She also criticised the use of an artificial intelligence generated image in the song’s promotion, saying it had been used without her consent.

According to the actor, she raised concerns about the Hindi version with the filmmakers and chose not to promote the track. Fatehi said she had warned the team that the lyrics could provoke a public backlash and that she wanted to distance herself from the release. The actor added that performers often have limited control over the final presentation of songs once production and marketing decisions move to the filmmaking team. She said the removal of the Hindi version following public criticism showed that audiences could influence such decisions.

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Produced by KVN Productions, KD: The Devil is being mounted as a pan-Indian release. The film is scheduled to open in cinemas on 30 April.

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