Actor-director R Parthiban has issued a clarification and apology after his caste-related remark at a promotional event for Ustaad Bhagat Singh, starring Pawan Kalyan, sparked controversy online.

At the event, Parthiban introduced himself by referring to his caste roots, a statement that quickly went viral and drew criticism, with many pointing out a contradiction with his earlier anti-caste stance.

In a late-night audio message, the actor said that if his words had hurt anyone, he offered a “heartfelt apology” and urged people to move on. He added that some issues “turn into debates without any real gain” and disturb public peace.

Explaining the context, Parthiban said he was under pressure at the event due to his limited fluency in Telugu, which led to him stumbling while speaking. He also reiterated that while Telugu is his mother tongue, his life and career are deeply rooted in Tamil.

The actor further revealed that he could not dub for his role in the Telugu version of the film due to language constraints, and another voice was used. He will, however, dub for himself in the Tamil version.

The remarks have since triggered debate on social media, with criticism centred around the use of caste references in a public platform.