# Siddharth Anand faces backlash for mocking Telugu film flops

2026-08-20T04:21:13+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Director Siddharth Anand, known for Shah Rukh Khan's 'Pathaan', has stirred a controversy by reacting to a social media post that listed several recent Telugu big-budget films as flops. The post, shared on X, named films such as NTR Jr's 'Devara', Ram Charan's 'Peddi', and Prabhas' 'The Raja Saab'. Anand replied with a simple 'Oops', which m9.news reports as a possible 'big mistake' that could create trouble for him and his upcoming film 'King'. Hindustan Times reports that Telugu film fans lashed out at Anand, pointing out that films like 'Kalki 2898 AD' were blockbusters and that his own film 'Fighter' had an underwhelming run. One user challenged him to release 'King' against a Prabhas film. 'King', starring Shah Rukh Khan, is scheduled for a December 2026 release. While m9.news frames Anand's comment as unnecessary trolling that might backfire against his pan-India release, Hindustan Times presents the fan backlash and criticisms of his track record. The film 'King' is produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix Pictures.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

m9.news frames the incident as a strategic error by Anand, emphasizing potential fallout for his upcoming film 'King' and the risk of alienating Telugu audiences. Hindustan Times focuses on the fan backlash and contrasts the listed flops with counter-examples of Telugu hits, also noting criticisms of Anand's own box office record. m9.news omits the fact that 'Devara' was a hit and downplays Telugu successes, while Hindustan Times gives voice to fan defenses. A balanced view: Anand's 'Oops' was a provocative comment, but Telugu cinema has both flops and blockbusters, the impact on 'King' is speculative. Watch for how the director responds or if the controversy fades before the 2026 release. Words: 139

## Coverage

Coverage: 2 sources, 1 neutral, 1 sensationalist
- m9.news (sensationalist) <https://www.m9.news/movienews/siddharth-anand-comment-tollywood-movies-controversy/>
  Leads with drama of 'big mistake' and 'backfire', omits Telugu hits like Kalki.
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/siddharth-anand-earns-the-ire-of-telugu-film-fans-after-he-takes-a-dig-at-how-multiple-big-releases-have-flopped-101787233026543.html>
  Reports fan backlash and both sides of box office record without editorializing.

This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources. Last updated 2026-08-20T18:11:36+00:00.

Tags: King, Pathaan, Shah Rukh Khan, Siddharth Anand, Tollywood
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