Naga Vamsi Responds to Backlash Over ‘Disrespecting’ Boney Kapoor During Roundtable Debate-Watch

Telugu producer Naga Vamsi clarifies his remarks, calling it a ‘healthy discussion’ while addressing the Bollywood vs South cinema debate.

January 1, 2025: New Delhi: Telugu producer Naga Vamsi has responded to severe backlash after his remarks towards veteran producer Boney Kapoor during a Bollywood vs South Cinema debate went viral. The controversy erupted after Vamsi claimed Bollywood primarily caters to audiences in Bandra and Juhu and credited Telugu films like Baahubali and RRR for reshaping Indian cinema’s global image.

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The Viral Debate:

During a Galatta Plus roundtable, Naga Vamsi stated, “You have to accept this. We, South Indians, have changed the way Bollywood looks at cinema. You guys are stuck in making films for Bandra and Juhu. You witnessed change with Baahubali, RRR, Animal, and Jawan.”

Boney Kapoor disagreed, countering, “It’s not that. Telugu cinema didn’t teach us. Cinema has always evolved in Bollywood as well.”

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The conversation intensified as Vamsi pointed out how Telugu event films have reshaped audience perception, while Kapoor mentioned Bollywood classics like Mughal-E-Azam and acknowledged the influence of legendary stars like Amitabh Bachchan.

This conversation between Suryadevara Naga Vamsi (south movie producer) and Boney Kapoor about Regional and Bollywood movies is causing controversy on social media
byu/CuteTohHai inBollyBlindsNGossip

Naga Vamsi Clarifies on Social Media:

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Amid the backlash, Naga Vamsi took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his stance:
“You don’t need to teach us how to respect elders. We respect Boney Ji more than you guys do, and there was no disrespect towards him in that conversation. It was a healthy discussion, and we laughed and hugged after the interview. Don’t jump to conclusions based on a clip.”

Bollywood vs South Cinema – An Ongoing Debate:

Vamsi emphasized that regional cinema, led by films like Baahubali, RRR, and Pushpa, has reshaped the Indian film industry, pushing boundaries of storytelling and production value. He also highlighted the role of OTT platforms in democratizing cinema and bridging regional and linguistic barriers.

Industry Reactions:

Prominent Bollywood directors like Sanjay Gupta, Hansal Mehta, and Siddharth Anand criticized Naga Vamsi for his comments, calling them ‘arrogant.’ However, many in the Telugu film industry have supported Vamsi’s perspective, echoing sentiments about the changing dynamics of Indian cinema.

The Takeaway:

While the debate around Bollywood vs South Cinema continues, Naga Vamsi’s clarification underlines the importance of context in discussions. Both Bollywood and South Indian cinema have significantly contributed to India’s cinematic identity, with crossover success becoming more frequent in recent years.

Naga Vamsi is known for producing blockbuster Telugu films like Guntur Kaaram, Devara: Part 1, and Lucky Baskhar.

Tags: Naga Vamsi, Boney Kapoor, Bollywood vs South Cinema, Telugu Cinema, Film Industry Debate, Baahubali, RRR, Amitabh Bachchan, OTT Platforms