Tamil Actor Arya Triggers Storm with ‘Fake Sadhus’ Remarks
Arya spoke about his experiences while shooting for Naan Kadavul in Varanasi. His comments, however, have sparked backlash.
Tamil actor Arya has landed in controversy following his remarks about sadhus in Varanasi during the promotions of his upcoming film Mr. X.
The spy thriller, directed by Manu Anand, also stars Gautham Ram Karthik, R. Sarathkumar, and Manju Warrier in key roles and is slated for release on April 17, 2026.
During a promotional interaction, Arya spoke about his experiences while shooting for Naan Kadavul in Varanasi. His comments, however, have sparked backlash.
He said, “When we were shooting for ‘Naan Kadavul’, we went to Varanasi. The place was full of fake sadhus. Many of them are people who have committed crimes, even murder, and are now living there in hiding. I’d say about 60% of the sadhus are real, but the other 40% are fake swamis.”
He further added, “If you ask some of them for their name, they’ll just say ‘Swami’. They don’t have a proper name. No ration card, no ID card, no PAN card—nothing at all. They are basically criminals who come there to lie low for three or four years and then leave.”
Arya also recalled an incident during the Kumbh Mela shoot, stating that police had warned the crew about potential dangers. “They told us, ‘We are only 50,000 policemen here with normal guns, while some people inside are carrying AK-47s. So be very careful while you shoot.’ That’s the situation there. You’ll find all sorts of people everywhere,” he said.
The remarks have triggered mixed reactions, with some criticizing the sweeping generalization about sadhus, while others view it as a personal observation shared during a film shoot.
