A formal FIR was registered on Saturday against actor Vijay Deverakonda under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at Raidurgam Police Station in Hyderabad. The case is linked to remarks he made during the pre-release event of Suriya’s upcoming film Retro, which have triggered a strong backlash from tribal organisations.

Vijay Deverakonda’s Remark Sparks Outrage

The controversy began when Vijay, while commenting on the recent Pahalgam terror attack, described the attackers as “tribals from 500 years ago, fighting without common sense.”

His words were widely criticised by tribal communities, who deemed the comparison offensive and derogatory.

According to news agency ANI: “A complaint has been filed against actor Vijay Deverakonda under the SC/ST Act for allegedly making remarks that hurt the sentiments of the tribal community. The complaint, lodged by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik, the State President of the Joint Action Committee of Tribal Communities, claims that Deverakonda’s comments during a pre-release event for the movie ‘Retro’ were offensive and insulted the tribal community. The case has been registered at the Raidurgam Police Station in Cyberabad, and an investigation is underway.”

A complaint has been filed against actor Vijay Deverakonda under the SC/ST Act for allegedly making remarks that hurt the sentiments of the tribal community. The complaint, lodged by Nenavath Ashok Kumar Naik, the State President of the Joint Action Committee of Tribal…

— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2025

Tribal Committee Demands Apology

The Tribal Joint Action Committee strongly condemned the statement and called for a public apology from the actor. In response, Vijay issued a clarification on social media, explaining that he never intended to insult or target India’s Scheduled Tribes.

He clarified that his use of the term “tribals” was meant to describe ancient tribal warfare in a global, historical sense and not any community in India. He also expressed regret for any unintentional hurt caused.

Police Investigation Underway

Despite his apology, the FIR was formally filed, and the Raidurgam Police have now launched an official investigation into the matter.

Vijay’s Upcoming Film

Meanwhile, Vijay’s next project, Kingdom, directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, is awaiting an official release date. The film stars Bhagyashri Borse as the female lead, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander.