Harish Shankar Calls Himself 'Most Trolled' at Ranabaali Event
At the Ranabaali pre-release event, Harish Shankar called himself the 'most trolled' director and supported Vijay Deverakonda against online criticism.
Dumtika Editorial
October 14, 2026 · 1 min read
(Image: Dumtika Editorial)
Key Highlights
- Harish Shankar addressed trolling at Ranabaali's pre-release event in Hyderabad.
- He called himself the 'most trolled' director and supported Vijay Deverakonda.
- Shankar referenced his experience after Ustaad Bhagat Singh's poor box office run.
- The event spotlighted the challenges of online criticism in Telugu cinema.
Harish Shankar, known for his work in Telugu cinema, made headlines at the grand pre-release event of Vijay Deverakonda’s film Ranabaali in Hyderabad on October 13. Addressing the audience, the director openly discussed the impact of online trolling on both himself and Vijay Deverakonda, who has faced significant criticism on social media in recent times.
During his speech, Harish Shankar remarked, "During the trailer launch event of Ranabaali, everyone spoke about online trolls. They can troll the language and body language of Vijay, but his hardwork and dedication cannot be trolled. I would have been at home after the release of Shock, if we are worried about trolling. I know about the hard work of Vijay Deverakonda and he is a positive person. I am the most trolled person in the recent times but I am standing before you." He also referenced a memorable dialogue from Puri Jagannadh’s film Neninthe, drawing parallels between the film industry and real-life challenges.
Harish Shankar’s last directorial, Ustaad Bhagat Singh starring Pawan Kalyan, did not meet expectations at the box office and was met with harsh criticism, particularly targeting his writing and direction. The director has not announced any new projects since then.
The Ranabaali event brought together key figures from the industry, with Vijay Deverakonda’s resilience in the face of trolling highlighted by Harish Shankar’s support. The event underscored the ongoing conversation about online negativity and the perseverance required to thrive in the film industry.
