The movie Daaku Maharaaj, starring Urvashi Rautela and Nandamuri Balakrishna, has been surrounded by controversy since its release on January 12, 2025. From backlash over the song Dabidi Dibidi to Urvashi Rautela’s promotional comments, the film has constantly been in the headlines. The controversy continued even after the movie premiered on Netflix on February 21, 2025. Here’s a look at the major issues that have kept Daaku Maharaaj in the news.
Dabidi Dibidi Song Controversy
One of the biggest controversies surrounding the film is its song Dabidi Dibidi. Sung by Vagdevi, the song faced heavy criticism on social media. Viewers called the dance steps “obscene,” “vulgar,” and “cringe-worthy.”
Many also pointed out the significant age gap between lead actors Nandamuri Balakrishna (64) and Urvashi Rautela (30), questioning the casting choice. Additionally, the song featured some of Balakrishna’s famous dialogues, but fans were unhappy with the choreography, directed by Shekhar Master.
When asked about the criticism, Urvashi Rautela told The Hollywood Reporter India that she found it “hard to assess why people are talking about the choreography in this way.”
Urvashi Rautela’s Insensitive Comments
Urvashi Rautela also sparked controversy with her remarks during the movie’s promotions. She was heavily trolled for making insensitive comments about Saif Ali Khan’s recent stabbing incident.
Instead of addressing the attack on Saif Ali Khan, Urvashi focused on the film’s box office success and her expensive gifts. She told ANI, “It is very unfortunate. Now, Daaku Maharaaj has crossed Rs 105 crore at the box office, and my mother gifted me this diamond-studded Rolex, while my father gave me this mini watch on my finger. But we don’t feel confident to wear it outside openly. There is this insecurity that anybody can attack us. Whatever happened was very unfortunate.”
Her comments led to severe backlash online, with people calling her response “tone-deaf” and “insensitive.”
Apology and Further Criticism
Following public outrage, Urvashi issued an apology for her remarks. However, she deleted the post shortly after, leading to further criticism.
Many social media users accused her of making a “publicity stunt” and trying to stay relevant. Others questioned whether the apology was even sincere.
Netflix and Deleted Scenes Rumors
Before the Netflix release of Daaku Maharaaj on February 21, rumors spread that the streaming platform had removed scenes featuring Urvashi Rautela. These rumors gained traction when Netflix released a poster of the film without her image, leading to fan speculation.
After an online uproar, Netflix addressed the issue by releasing individual character slides. Interestingly, Urvashi’s image appeared twice in the carousel, further confusing fans. Later, sources confirmed that her scenes were not removed from the film.
