Actor Prakash Raj recently made headlines after performing his mother Suvarnalatha’s last rites following Christian traditions, despite publicly identifying as an atheist. Suvarnalatha, who passed away at the age of 86 due to age-related health issues, was laid to rest at St. Michael’s Church in Bengaluru.
Prakash Raj explained that while he does not believe in God, he respects the beliefs of his loved ones. When a troll questioned him for following Christian customs for his mother, he hit back sharply.
He wrote on X, “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.”
Prakash Raj Faces Online Backlash After His Response
Despite his clear explanation, the actor was trolled heavily online. Many critics accused him of hypocrisy, pointing to past statements where he allegedly mocked Hindu rituals, gods, and festivals.
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A user commented, “Touching, Prakash. You don’t believe in God but happily buried your mother as per Christian rites… Then why have you spent years mocking Hindu gods, temples, festivals… Your hypocrisy isn’t respect, it’s hate reserved only for #Hindus. #JustExposing.”
Another wrote, “You’re free to follow any religion you want… But you have no right to mock someone else’s religion. You’re a hypocrite. You’re anti-Hindu.”
A third user said, “Then you should shut up and not speak about Hindus or look down upon their beliefs! B-grade converted guy!”
What Actor Said Earlier
Prakash Raj has long maintained that he does not follow any religion but respects the beliefs of those around him. In past interviews, he mentioned participating in religious rituals with his family when asked. He stated, “I sit with my wife for homam (havan) and go to church with my mother if she asks me to… as long as they’re not causing harm to anybody.”
On X, the actor also shared a heartfelt post about his mother’s passing: “Thank you each n everyone for your kindness and thoughtful words. It meant a lot to me and my family in these moments of grief. Thank you Amma for everything… love you… will miss you.”
On the work front, Prakash Raj was last seen in the Hindi romantic drama Tere Ishk Mein alongside Dhanush and Kriti Sanon. He will next appear in H Vinoth and Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, and has other projects including G2, Dacoit and Varanasi lined up.
