People Media Factory’s Mowgli directed by Sandeep Raj and featuring Roshan Kanakala, son of anchor Suma recently unveiled its first glimpse on YouTube. What was expected to be a promotional push instead turned into controversy, leaving the film’s digital campaign in a negative spotlight.
Actor-director Bandi Saroj Kumar, not yet a mainstream face but widely followed on YouTube for his bold and impactful content, levelled serious allegations against the Mowgli team. He claimed that after taking up the project under pressure from director Sandeep Raj and working for eight months without payment, his contribution was deliberately sidelined.
According to Saroj, comments under the YouTube video that praised his presence in the glimpse were deleted, while bot activity was used to boost positive comments for hero Roshan. He further stated that the original thumbnail, which featured him alongside the lead pair, was later replaced in what he described as a clear attempt to erase the positivity he was receiving compared to the hero. He came down strongly on this, calling it cheap nepotism, and said he would expose the insecurity.
Though the industry is no stranger to insecurities and behind-the-scenes tensions, airing such issues in public has placed the Mowgli team in an uncomfortable spot. Saroj has now deleted his tweets, raising questions about his next move. Attention has shifted to producer TG Vishwa Prasad and director Sandeep Raj, who may soon face pressure to clarify their stand before the media. Below are the alleged old and new thumbnails (screenshots).
