Ayan Mukerji explains the controversial scene with Ranbir Kapoor entering temple with his shoes on

People were outraged after the Brahmastra trailer was aired because of the moment in which Ranbir Kapoor’s character jumps and rings the bell, which many mistook for being inside a temple. ‘Boycott Brahmastra’ became a Twitter trend within a few hours. Director Ayan Mukerji has finally spoken out about the controversy and explained why the contentious sequence has hurt people’s feelings.

Ayan clarified a misunderstanding over Ranbir’s bell-ringing moment on Instagram, writing, “We had some people in our community, upset because of one shot in our Trailer – Ranbir’s character wearing shoes as he rings a Bell. As the Creator of this film (and a devotee), I wanted to humbly address what happened here. In our movie, Ranbir is not entering a temple, but a Durga Puja Pandal. My own family has been organising a similar kind of Durga Puja Celebration for… 75 years! One, which I have been a part of since my childhood. In my experience, we only take off our shoes, right on the stage where the Goddess is, and not when you enter the Pandal.”

He further added, “It is personally important for me to reach out to anyone who may have been upset with this image… because above all, Brahmāstra is created as a movie experience which pays respect to, and celebrates – Indian culture, traditions and history. That is at the heart of why I made this movie, so it is very important to me that this feeling, reaches every Indian who is watching Brahmāstra! Okay that’s all ! Happy Sunday from rainy Mumbai!!”