Vijay Deverakonda Faces Backlash For 'Rape Threat' Scene In Family Star, Netizens Call It 'Disgrace'

20 days after its theatrical release, Vijay Deverakonda and Mrunal Thakur starrer Family Star recently premiered on the OTT platform, Prime Video. However, it has left netizens disappointed and furious. Why? Because of a scene in which Vijay’s character Govardhan is allegedly threatening a good by giving rape threats to the women in his family.

In a scene from The Family Star, a goon (played by Ravi Babu) comes to Govardhan’s and propositions his sister-in-law in return for the money that her husband had borrowed from him. This left Govardhan furious who then beats up the goons and issues an indirect threat to the women in Ravi’s family. Interestingly, just before this scene, Vijay’s Govardhan was seen preaching about how women should be respected.

The scene has left netizens disappointed. While some are calling it a “disgrace”, others questioned the director of the film, Parasuram, for such a scene.

“In Family Star, the ‘hero’ bashes up the goons of a muscleman who preyed upon the women of his family. And then, proceeds to give a rape threat to the women of goon’s family. That’s all I have to say,” one of the users wrote. “I am hoping Telugu fans are not defending this with their usual ‘cinema ni cinema la choodandi’ (watch a movie as a movie) logic,” added another. “He Is Such A Disgrace To Industry! #FamilyStar! #VijayDevarakonda,” a third comment read.

For the unversed, Family Star revolves around Govardhan (played by Vijay Deverakonda), a middle-class man devoted to his family’s happiness. His unexpected romance is a key focus of the film. This is Vijay’s second movie with Parasuram. The two previously worked together for the 2018 movie Geetha Govindam, which also starred Rashmika Mandanna in the lead.

Family Star was released on Prime Video on April 26, 2024. Earlier this week, Deverakonda expressed excitement for the OTT release The Family Star. “Playing Govardhan in ‘The Family Star’ was a deeply rewarding experience. He is your ideal yet real hero, someone who shoulders the responsibility of his entire family without complaining or seeking recognition for the personal sacrifices he makes. His journey reflects the everyday struggles and triumphs of the middle class, which will resonate with audiences across cultures,” the actor said in a statement.