'To those who wrote bad reviews, I thank you even more': Jagapathi Babu takes dig at 'Peddi' critics; hails Ram Charan

Jagapathi Babu, who played the role of Appalasuri in 'Peddi', heaped praise on Ram Charan for carrying the film on his shoulders. He also took a dig at those who wrote negative reviews of the movie, saying they had unknowingly helped it earn more money. Let's learn more about what he has to say.The 'Peddi' team recently gathered in Hyderabad to celebrate the film's strong box office run, and Jagapathi Babu delivered a memorable address to fans in attendance. According to the News18 report, he said, "Peddi adadu, poradadu, gelichadu. Gelichaka, Peddi team, release aina taravata, adalsi vachindi, malli poradalsi vachindi, malli gelicharu. Rendu sarlu gelavadam annadi ee okka aate ayuntadi bahusa ('Peddi' played, struggled, won. Even after winning after its release, the 'Peddi' team still had to play, still had to fight before winning. Maybe this is the only game where you had to win twice)."Jagapathi Babu went on to reflect on the challenges of getting a film like 'Peddi' made. He stressed how much courage it took from Ram Charan to back a story of this nature. He said, "Keeping aside the Rs 300 crore or Rs 400 crore it has made, this film is so razor-edge that the person who bought a Rs 300 ticket will decide its fate. We are such a vulnerable industry that our fate is in their thinking."He added, "In such an industry, it's not easy to get a producer for a story like this, let alone convince a star like Ram Charan to act in it. Had it gone sideways, people would've panned the film. But he (Ram) has shouldered the film well. He was not a man in this film; he was Superman, he was He-Man."During the event, Jagapathi Babu took a witty jab at the critics and thanked them for their harsh reviews. He said, "To everybody, once again, thanks. And to those who wrote bad reviews, I thank you even more. Because you have unknowingly helped us a lot."A section of viewers has criticised the portrayal of Janhvi Kapoor's character Achiyamma, accusing the makers of hypersexualising the female lead and presenting women in a problematic light.Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the film features Ram Charan, Janhvi Kapoor, Jagapathi Babu, Boman Irani, Divyenndu, and more. It was released in theatres on June 4, 2026.