IIFA 2024 Controversy: Kannada filmmaker Hemanth M Rao was recently invited to IIFA 2024, held in Abu Dhabi. However, he felt disrespected at the event as the organisers asked him to sit till 3 am. And though he complied with the request, he was not given any award. To reveal details of the unfortunate incident, The Sapta Sagaradaache Ello director posted a long note on social media platform X and Instagram expressing his disappointment and slamming the award organisers for “massive inconvenience and extremely disrespectful behavior”. Hemanth also shared that besides him, music director Charan Raj also went through the same.

Amid the row, actor Siddharth, known for projects like Chashme Baddoor, Rang De Basanti  and Striker, has come out to extend support to the director. Taking to the comment section of his post, Siddharth wrote, “Sorry to know you and Charan had to go through this… disrespect towards artists at the hands of these middlemen will not end…but props to you for speaking out.”

Social Media Post Shared By Hemanth

In the post shared on Instagram and X, Hemanth wrote that he has been in the business for a long time, and has attended several award shows. “I’ve been in this business for over a decade and this wasn’t my first stint at award shows. It’s always been a case where the winners are flown in and hosted for the event. For context, I sat till 3 AM in the morning only to realize there was no award. The same happened to my music director, Charan Raj.”

The director further clarified that he is not upset about losing the trophy to director Arun Sudhir but for being deceived. “I haven’t won MANY awards and haven’t lost sleep over it. If all the other nominees were invited and one winner emerged out of it. I wouldn’t bother getting irritated. Also, the format this year was just to hand out the award. The nominees weren’t even mentioned.”

Further pointing out how the award show organisers need talent (like himself), he wrote, “Maybe it’s been a while for you and your team to realize it. Your award shows run on the talent that you put on your stage. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I don’t need your award to enjoy the best job in the world. Next time you need me on your stage… and TRUST ME…you will. Take your award and keep it where the sun doesn’t shine.”