Prakash Raj recently lost his mother, Swarnalatha Raj, who passed away due to age-related health issues. She was 86 years old. The veteran actor’s mother passed away on March 30, and her funeral took place the following day in Bengaluru. The last rites were held at old St. Michael’s Church, following the tradition where family, friends, or relatives bid farewell to the deceased. This moment went viral on social media, where members of the film fraternity and various fans offered condolences to the actor and his family during this difficult time.
Social media criticism arises over funeral rites
After the funeral, some social media accounts shared old clips of Prakash Raj where he mentioned he was not religious, criticizing the funeral's dynamics. A dissimilarity was drawn between the actor’s comments and the Christian funeral for Raj’s deceased mother, leading to the actor being dismissed as a hypocrite. The matter was shared on social media, quickly becoming a hot topic that generated different types of reactions. Some responses were adverse toward the actor, while others favored his actions. So Prakash Raj chose to respond.
Prakash Raj responds strongly to critics with a clear message
Responding to the controversy, Prakash Raj addressed the criticism directly and explained the reason behind the funeral arrangements. Sharing his thoughts, the actor wrote: “Yes. I don’t believe in god .. but my mother believed in her god. Who am I to deny her the right to be buried according to her belief? This is the basic respect we give one another. Will you hate mongering monsters understand this #justasking.”
His statement quickly gained attention online, with many people praising him for emphasizing respect for individual beliefs. Several fans and supporters said that honoring a loved one’s faith, even if it differs from one’s own, reflects compassion and respect.
Prakash Raj also condemns fake social media posts during a difficult time
Along with responding to the funeral controversy, Prakash Raj also addressed another issue circulating online. A fake screenshot of a tweet allegedly posted by him about Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister’s mother had begun circulating on social media. The actor assured that the post was fake and slammed everyone who indulged in fake news and propaganda. He slammed people for posting fake tweets and spreading hate during a period of mourning. However, amidst the turmoil, Prakash Raj, of course, also thanked everyone who supported him and his family during this period. He thanked all the well-wishers for extending their support, love, and respect.
Meanwhile, Prakash Raj was last seen in the Pawan Kalyan starrer 'OG'.
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