'Peddi': Nearly Six Minutes of New Footage Added to Ram Charan-Janhvi Kapoor Film

Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor's recent Telugu film Peddi will be available in theatres with an additional 5 minutes and 56 seconds of footage from Thursday onwards. Vriddhi Cinemas, the production company behind the film, announced this on X.

Reports suggest that the additional scenes involve ones featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Jagapathi Babu. Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the film crossed ₹400 crore at the worldwide box office recently.

Upon release, the film was criticised for its depictions of its female lead Janhvi Kapoor. Kapoor, who plays Achiamma, the love interest of Peddi (Ram Charan) in the film, is filmed with a deeply objectifying male gaze. With viewers increasingly pointing out the problematic depiction, Buchi Babu eventually responded to the backlash, promising fans that the film would be altered. 

"As a filmmaker, I believe cinema should entertain, inspire, and connect with audiences. It should never make anyone feel uncomfortable or disrespected. We have heard the feedback regarding certain scenes in Peddi and have taken it seriously. I have always had immense respect for women, both on and off screen, and it was never our intention to objectify or disrespect any female character. If any part of the film has been perceived that way, we respect those sentiments, understand the concerns being raised, and sincerely apologize," the filmmaker wrote on X, a few days after its release on June 4.

The filmmaker further added that the film would be modified. "After reviewing the feedback, we have decided to make changes to the concerned portions. Cinema grows through its connection with audiences, and as storytellers, we have a responsibility to be mindful of evolving perspectives and sensitivities. Every woman deserves to be respected, valued, and represented with dignity. We remain committed to telling stories that celebrate strong characters and uphold those values," he wrote.

The film, also starring Shiva Rajkumar, Divyenndu Sharma, and Jagapathi Babu, is produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru under Vriddhi Cinemas, in collaboration with Mythri Movie Makers, Sukumar Writings, and IVY Entertainment, with co-producer Ishan Saksena.