Harish Shankar Apologizes to Mahesh Babu Fans After Social Media Controversy Ahead of Ustaad Bhagat Singh Release

| Published: Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 15:29 [IST]

Tollywood director Harish Shankar recently found himself at the center of a social media controversy after a brief reply to a tweet triggered backlash from Mahesh Babu’s fan community. The incident occurred just days before the release of his much-anticipated film Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan. After the post went viral and sparked criticism online, the filmmaker quickly deleted the tweet and issued a public apology, clarifying that the response was posted unintentionally and without fully reading the original message.

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A Tweet That Sparked a Fan War

Director Harish Shankar recently faced online criticism after replying to a social media post that indirectly mocked the box office records of Superstar Mahesh Babu. The filmmaker responded with the word “Thadasthu,” which translates to “so be it” or “let it happen.” Although the reply appeared casual, it quickly drew the attention of Mahesh Babu’s fans, who interpreted it as support for a tweet that compared film records.

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Viral Screenshots Intensify the Debate

Within minutes, screenshots of the reply began circulating widely across social media platforms. Even though the director deleted the post soon after realizing the situation, the screenshots continued to spread, leading to strong reactions from Mahesh Babu’s fanbase. Many criticized the filmmaker for seemingly endorsing a comment that could create unnecessary rivalry between fan communities.

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Harish Shankar Explains What Happened

Realizing the growing backlash, Harish Shankar posted a detailed clarification explaining the circumstances behind the tweet. According to the director, the day had been extremely hectic as he was busy with multiple commitments related to the post-production and promotions of Ustaad Bhagat Singh.

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A Day Packed With Film Work

In his note, Harish revealed that he had been attending several important meetings, including discussions with the censor board, visiting the Peddamma Temple for blessings, reviewing song promos, and supervising the background score with composer Thaman. During this busy schedule, he was also replying to messages from fans, journalists, and well-wishers, which led to the misunderstanding.

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“I Only Partially Read the Tweet”

The director admitted that he responded to the message without reading it completely. Shortly after posting the reply, his team alerted him about the full context of the tweet. Harish immediately realized the mistake and deleted the response, stating that the comment was never meant to offend Mahesh Babu or his supporters.

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Respect for Superstar Mahesh Babu

Harish Shankar also made it clear that he holds immense respect for Mahesh Babu and admires his achievements in the film industry. In his statement, he mentioned that he believes Mahesh Babu will continue to set new box office records in the future. He emphasized that his intention was never to create divisions among fan groups.

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A Heartfelt Apology to Fans

Acknowledging that the incident might have hurt the sentiments of some fans, Harish Shankar offered a sincere apology. He stated that with his film releasing soon, he understands the importance of unity and support from fans of all actors. The director concluded his message by requesting everyone to support Ustaad Bhagat Singh, hoping the focus would return to celebrating cinema rather than social media controversies.

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