Rahul Ravindran Quits X After Receiving Death Threats Aimed at His Kids Over 'The Girlfriend' Controversy, Says 'I Am Done' (View Post)
Filmmaker Rahul Ravindran has quit X (formerly Twitter) on June 30, 2026, after death threats against his children. The exit follows intense backlash linking his film 'The Girlfriend', starring Rashmika Mandanna, to the Ketan Agarwal murder case. Ravindran's comments on patriarchy and his wife Chinmayi Sripada's defense further fueled the controversy.
In a shocking turn of events, acclaimed filmmaker Rahul Ravindran, known for directing films like The Girlfriend, has made the difficult decision to permanently delete his X (formerly Twitter) account. The drastic step comes after a wave of severe online harassment, including chilling death threats targeting his young children, ignited by a contentious online discussion surrounding his film and the tragic Ketan Agarwal murder case. Ketan Agarwal Murder Case: Why a Defence Lawyer Filed INR 10 Crore Defamation Notice Against Accused Siya Goyal's Brother.
Rahul Ravindran Quits X after Death Threats against his kids
Rahul Ravindran, visibly distraught, announced his exit from the microblogging platform on June 30, 2026. He revealed that he had been subjected to a deluge of abusive messages, with the situation escalating to include explicit threats against his children. "I didn't like the guy I was for half an hour after I read that tweet," Ravindran shared, expressing the profound rage and emotional disturbance the comments caused him. He stated that he did not want any platform to wield such power over his emotions, concluding, "I am done with this app."
The controversy intensified after his wife, popular singer Chinmayi Sripada, publicly defended him. Her support, however, inadvertently drew further backlash, with more users engaging in heated exchanges and directing criticism towards the couple.
Rahul Ravindran on Why He Deleted X
The Ketan Agarwal Murder Case and 'The Girlfriend' Controversy
The online storm began when an X user, referencing the Ketan Agarwal murder case, questioned Rahul Ravindran about directing a film on "atrocities against men," given his recent work on The Girlfriend, which stars Rashmika Mandanna. Ravindran's response, where he highlighted society's patriarchal nature and distinguished between individual crimes and systemic issues faced by women, triggered a wider and more aggressive online debate.
The Ketan Agarwal murder case, which has gripped national attention, involves the alleged killing of 26-year-old Pune businessman Ketan Agarwal. He was reportedly pushed to his death from Lohagad Fort on June 18, 2026, by his fiancée, Siya Goyal (20), and her lover, Chetan Chaudhary (22). Police investigations revealed a meticulously planned murder, initially disguised as an accident.
About 'The Girlfriend'
Rahul Ravindran's latest directorial venture, The Girlfriend, is a Telugu-language romantic drama film that garnered significant attention. The film, released theatrically on November 7, 2025, stars
Ravindran himself also appeared in the film as Prof. Sudheer. Produced by Vidya Koppineedi and Dheeraj Mogilineni under Dheeraj Mogilineni Entertainment and Geetha Arts, the film's songs were composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab and Prashanth R. Vihari, with Prashanth R Vihari also composing the score.
Bhoo stars Rashmika Mandanna in the titular role of Bhooma Devi, fondly known as Bhoo. She is joined by Dheekshith Shetty, who plays Vikram, also called Vicky, while Anu Emmanuel essays the role of Durga, affectionately known as Dee.
The storyline of The Girlfriend revolves around a young woman whose romantic relationship progressively becomes manipulative and emotionally toxic, a theme Ravindran clarified was about systemic issues affecting women, not individual crimes committed by them. The film became available for streaming on Netflix starting December 5, 2025. Rashmika Mandanna Flaunts Her Gaddar Film Awards 2026 Best Actress Trophy for ‘The Girlfriend’, Poses With Mother-in-Law Madhavi Deverakonda (See Pics).
Ravindran's decision to leave X underscores the severe mental toll and personal impact that unchecked online abuse and threats can have on public figures and their families.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 30, 2026 04:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).