Chennai: Asserting that he was not against Kannadigas, Tamil film actor Sathyaraj, who was donning the role of 'Kattappa' in the movie 'Baahubali-2', today expressed regret for the remarks against Kannadigas made nine years ago during an agitation organised by the Tamil film industry on the vexatious Cauvery river water issue.
In a video message released to the media through WhatsApp, he said 'I take this opportunity to express my regret for the remarks made by me during the Cauvery protests nine years ago'.'I reiterate that I am not against Kannadigas.In fact I had been invited to act in Kannada films, but I could not do so due to paucity of time', he said.
The actor's apology followed demands made by some pro-Kannada outfits, who staged agitations and threatened to stall the release of the film in Karnataka after viewing his remarks made nine years ago, in Youtube, the actor said he was a small actor in a big film.
'If my remarks made nine years ago had hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas, I express my wholehearted regret for the same.I hope those in Karnataka will accept the same and allow the release of 'Baahubali-2,', he added.Sathyaraj said 'I don't want a movie made on such a grand scale due to the hard work of thousands of technicians to go waste'.
He said he also has the responsibility to ensure that exhibitors in Karnataka, who have bought the screening rights of the film, were not affected.Advising the producers not to sign him in future films if the fear of suffering losses if he featured in the films, he said he would continue to voice his concern for the cause of Tamils, including the Cauvery and the Sri Lankan Tamils issues.
Sathyaraj said instead of living and dying as an actor, he took more pride in living and dying as a Tamil without superstition beliefs.'I take this opportunity to thank all those associations who stood by me and helped me handle this issue', he added.(UNI)