Updated On: 12 January, 2026 01:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Vivek Oberoi faced online backlash after praising Kantara: Chapter 1 but mistakenly referring to it as a Telugu film instead of Kannada. Netizens criticised the actor, saying a simple Google search could have avoided the error

Vivek Oberoi and Kantara Chapter 1
Actor Vivek Oberoi recently praised Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: Chapter 1 after it qualified for the Best Picture race at the 98th Academy Awards. However, the actor faced backlash online for mistakenly referring to the film as a Telugu-language movie instead of Kannada.
On Saturday, Oberoi took to X and reposted Hombale Films’ announcement about Kantara: Chapter 1 entering the Oscars race. He wrote, “What was once a sacred ritual, guarded by the ancient spirits of Tulunad, has now erupted into a global inferno. Bhuta Kola has transcended borders, shattering the silence to become a worldwide phenomenon. Massive congratulations, my brother shetty_rishab, on qualifying for the Best Picture race at the 98th Academy Awards! This isn’t just a nomination; it is the roar of our ancestors echoing on the world’s most prestigious stage. You have carried the raw, beating heart of Bharat into the global spotlight. The soil of our land now claims its place in cinematic history.”