Tricolour Trouble
Independence Day turned troublesome for Tollywood stars Allu Arjun and Vijay Deverakonda. The former’s error-ridden patriotic artwork triggered a storm online, while the latter’s post was quietly taken down soon after it appeared giving a hint that something must have been amiss. Why don’t actors or their teams pay attention to detail
Telugu superstar Allu Arjun faced heavy trolling on Independence Day after his official social media handle shared promotional artwork featuring an error-ridden Indian national flag. The post was quickly taken down by his team, but screenshots had already triggered a wave of online criticism. Netizens pointed out that the Tricolour in the custom-designed poster was missing the Ashoka Chakra. The artwork also featured prominent “AA” branding, including one logo placed on the Red Fort.
Social media users questioned how a high-profile celebrity team could be so particular about personal branding while overlooking basic details of the national flag.
In a related incident, an I-Day post and new poster shared by Vijay Deverakonda and Mythri Movie Makers on August 15 were also deleted from their respective social media handles shortly after being uploaded. The posts featured the new Ranabaali patriotic poster. Neither Vijay’s team nor the film’s producers have offered an official explanation for the deletion.
Sources suggest the hurried removal may have been prompted by minor visual elements or concerns arising from the flag controversy involving Allu Arjun on the same day. However, no specific technical or factual error in the Ranabaali poster has been confirmed.
Both incidents have sparked a wider debate about the accountability of celebrity PR and digital media teams when handling national imagery. With posts reaching millions of followers within minutes, even basic design errors can quickly become major controversies.
The Allu Arjun episode, in particular, raises questions about the use of generative design tools, which can sometimes omit critical details such as the Ashoka Chakra. Placing personal branding on a national monument such as the Red Fort can also blur the line between patriotism and self-promotion.
More importantly, simply deleting a controversial post without explaining what went wrong leaves the narrative to social media screenshots and speculation.
For celebrity teams, a basic fact-check and visual review before hitting “publish” may be the simplest way to avoid a very public Independence Day fiasco.