The world of Indian cinema is a vibrant, often volatile, landscape, and nowhere is this more evident than in the fierce loyalties of fan communities. A recent, and particularly venomous, online skirmish has put this on full display. Actor Prabhas, widely known for his ‘pan-India’ stardom and a reputation for being a reserved and humble “gentle giant,” is now at the center of a social media storm. The instigators, according to numerous reports and online observers, are a section of fans of his Kalki 2898 AD co-star, Deepika Padukone. They are being accused of attempting to tarnish his image by re-framing old news and concocting new stories to paint him as a “womaniser.”
The allegations, which have gained traction on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit, are a stark contrast to the widespread perception of Prabhas within the film fraternity. The claims largely revolve around past dating rumours and instances of his on-screen flirtation being misrepresented as real-life misconduct. Social media users have been sharing clips from old interviews and public appearances, cherry-picking moments to suggest a pattern of behaviour that is anything but gentlemanly. The narrative being pushed is that Prabhas “tries to woo and flirt with his co-stars,” a claim that many find disingenuous and malicious.
A deeper look reveals that the online attacks against Prabhas, while seemingly a bizarre and baseless character assassination attempt, appear to be rooted in a recent and significant professional setback for Deepika Padukone. According to multiple industry reports, the actress has been officially dropped from two major upcoming projects starring Prabhas. The first was Spirit, a film by director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, where she was reportedly replaced by Triptii Dimri. More recently and more notably, the production house for Kalki 2898 AD made an official announcement that Deepika would not be returning for the film’s sequel, a move that stunned fans given her central role in the first installment. The official statement from the makers cited an inability to “find a partnership” that met the “commitment” a film of that scale requires. This has fueled speculation that Deepika’s removal was due to disagreements over her fees, demands for capped working hours, and other professional conditions. The allegations against Prabhas, therefore, seem to be a retaliatory measure by a section of her fanbase, an attempt to shift the blame and undermine his standing in the industry following her unexpected exits from two high-profile films with him. This strategic smear campaign is a potent example of how fan loyalty can transform into a calculated and damaging force in the digital age.
What makes this particular online campaign so perplexing is its direct contradiction to the public statements of his female colleagues. Actresses who have worked with Prabhas, including Tamannaah Bhatia and Kajal Aggarwal, have consistently spoken about his respectful and kind nature.
Tamannaah, who has worked with Prabhas on multiple films including the Baahubali franchise and Rebel, has been one of his staunchest defenders. In past interviews, she has described him as one of her closest friends in the industry. “He is extremely simple as a person,” she once said, praising his down-to-earth nature despite his massive fame. She has consistently highlighted his unassuming and cordial demeanor, which she says commands respect from everyone he works with. The idea of him being anything but a perfect gentleman is, for her and many others, “absurd.”
Similarly, Kajal Aggarwal, who shared memorable on-screen chemistry with Prabhas in hits like Darling and Mr. Perfect, has also offered glowing testimonials. The two were subject to dating rumours themselves, but their professional and personal relationship has always been described as one of mutual respect. Kajal has previously complimented him as a “fantastic human being” and a “gentleman.” The sentiment among his peers is overwhelmingly positive, with many citing his humility and soft-spoken nature as his most defining qualities.
As the controversy continues to simmer, the consensus among industry insiders and many level-headed fans is clear: the allegations are baseless and run contrary to Prabhas’s well-established image. In a world where celebrity scandals often dominate headlines, the collective voice of his co-stars stands as a powerful testament to the man behind the superstar—a man consistently described as a true gentleman of the Indian film industry.
