Ranbir Kapoor’s Kolkata Dussehra slip explained: Why the Ramayana actor apologised with Rockstar lyrics

Sometimes, a single word can change the meaning of an entire sentence. Ranbir Kapoor discovered that during a Dussehra celebration in Kolkata, where his attempt to explain the triumph of good over evil took an unintended turn. A day later, the actor returned to the subject in Chennai, apologised for his choice of words and reached back to his 2011 film Rockstar for a line that summed up his predicament: “Jo bhi kehna chahun, barbad karein alfaz mere.”

The incident unfolded during the promotional run for Ramayana, in which Kapoor plays Lord Rama. Here is what he said, why the clip attracted attention and how he clarified his remarks.

What did Ranbir Kapoor say at the Kolkata Dussehra event?

On Tuesday, October 20, Kapoor addressed a Dussehra celebration organised at Central Park in Salt Lake, Kolkata. The event was themed ‘Ram Er Ayodhya – Ram Ki Ayodhya’ and brought together members of the Ramayana team, including producer Namit Malhotra, director Nitesh Tiwari and actor Ravie Dubey.

Speaking about the festival’s message, Kapoor said: “Burai kitni bhi takatvar kyun na ho, aakhir mei ant sachai aur achai ki hi hoti hai.”

The intended message was that truth and goodness ultimately prevail over evil. However, the use of the word ‘ant’, meaning end, rather than ‘jeet’, meaning victory, made the sentence sound as though goodness and truth themselves would meet their end. Videos of the speech circulated on social media, drawing attention to the verbal slip.

Why did Ranbir Kapoor apologise in Chennai?

On Wednesday, October 21, Kapoor addressed the incident at a Chennai event for Ramayana. Acknowledging that his earlier phrasing had not conveyed what he intended, he apologised publicly and explained the message he had wanted to deliver. “I would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the incident that happened yesterday. I was at the Dussehra event, and I had a slip of tongue. What I meant to say is, ‘Burai chahe kitni bhi takatvar kyun na ho, aakhir mei jeet achai aur sachai ki hoti hai’,” he said.

The clarification restored the intended meaning: no matter how powerful evil may be, goodness and truth will ultimately win. The episode also demonstrated how a brief moment on a public stage can take on a life of its own once a video begins circulating online.

What does the ‘barbaad karein alfaaz mere’ line mean?

Rather than ending his clarification with a straightforward apology, Kapoor added a musical reference. Recalling his collaboration with composer AR Rahman on Rockstar, he quoted a line from the film’s music: “Jo bhi kehna chahun, barbad karein alfaz mere.”

The line, which reflects the frustration of struggling to express oneself through words, offered a light-hearted way to acknowledge the mistake. Kapoor reiterated his apology, using humour without backing away from the clarification.

His Ramayana co-star Sai Pallavi was also present at the Chennai event.

How does the incident connect to Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming ‘Ramayana’?

The timing has added another layer of attention to the episode because Kapoor is preparing to portray Lord Rama in Tiwari’s two-part adaptation of the epic. Sai Pallavi plays Sita, Yash portrays Ravana, Sunny Deol plays Hanuman and Ravie Dubey appears as Lakshman.

Produced by Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, the film is planned as a two-part cinematic epic. Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026, with Part 2 planned for Diwali 2027.

For now, Kapoor’s clarification has brought the conversation back to what he intended to say. The episode is a reminder that, in the age of viral video clips, the difference between a message and its unintended meaning can sometimes come down to a single word.

(With inputs from ANI)