Producer Naga Vamsi recently faced criticism after engaging in a roundtable discussion with Boney Kapoor for Galatta. Notably, filmmakers such as Hansal Mehta and Sanjay Gupta expressed their disapproval, labelling his behaviour as 'disrespectful' towards Boney. In an interview with Telugu360, Vamsi sought to clarify that he holds no animosity towards Boney or Bollywood in general.

Naga Vamsi on his love for Bollywood

The producer responded to the interviewer's comments regarding the backlash Vamsi faced after the interview was released, acknowledging that many felt he had shown disrespect towards Bollywood. However, he emphasized that Karan Johar served as his primary inspiration for entering the film industry.

He stated, “If people genuinely think I disrespected Boney, I apologize. It was never my intention to offend anyone, particularly in Bollywood. As a South Indian, I take pride in the work we have accomplished since the COVID-19 pandemic. I have great admiration for Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, and Deepika Padukone. Karan Johar inspired me to pursue a career in film, rather than any Telugu filmmaker. From the moment I watched Kuch Kuch Hota Hain, I aspired to create a film with a similar grandeur.”

On the Boney Kapoor issue

Vamsi addressed the perception that he had shown disrespect towards Boney, clarifying that this was not the case. He noted how his actions and words were scrutinized, stating, “Rajamouli created RRR and Baahubali, Prashanth Neel produced KGF, Rishab Shetty directed Kantara, Sandeep Reddy Vanga worked on Animal, and Atlee was behind Jawan. As a South Indian conversing with someone from the north, I merely highlighted our achievements. Following the interview, Boney Kapoor and I had no issues. Furthermore, Pushpa 2 has set records that no Hindi film has achieved thus far, and naturally, I take pride in that. This is not a matter of arrogance.”

What happened

In a roundtable discussion held in December, Vamsi and Boney engaged in a debate regarding the differences between South Indian cinema and Bollywood. Vamsi asserted, “One thing, sir, you must acknowledge, even if it may seem quite severe. We, as South Indians, have transformed your perspective on cinema. Previously, you in Bollywood were confined to producing films aimed at audiences in Bandra and Juhu. The emergence of films like Baahubali, RRR, Animal, and Jawan has marked a significant shift,” to which Boney expressed his dissent.

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