Veteran actor Prakash Raj is mourning the loss of his mother, Suvarnalata Raj, who passed away on March 31 at the age of 86. While the actor is grieving this personal loss, he has also found himself at the center of social media criticism over his religious beliefs. Suvarnalata Raj’s last rites were performed in Bengaluru following Christian traditions, including a funeral mass at church and burial at a cemetery. Photos of Prakash Raj attending the ceremony with his family soon surfaced online.
Prakash Raj
Prakash Raj Trolled
However, the visuals triggered a wave of reactions, with some users questioning why the actor, who has openly identified as an atheist, chose to perform religious rituals. The controversy intensified after an old interview clip of Prakash Raj resurfaced on social media. In the video, he clearly states that he does not believe in God, sparking accusations of hypocrisy from some users. The debate quickly gained traction, with several posts highlighting the contrast between his personal beliefs and his actions during his mother’s funeral.
Prakash Raj
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Known for speaking his mind, Prakash Raj did not stay silent. Taking to social media platform X, he responded firmly to the criticism. He wrote that while he personally does not believe in God, his mother had deep faith and honoring her beliefs was a matter of respect. According to him, performing the last rites as per her faith is a basic human value, emphasizing that individuals should respect each other’s beliefs, even if they don’t share them.
Prakash Raj
Suvarnalata Raj passed away in Bengaluru after battling health issues. Her funeral was attended by close family members, including Prakash Raj’s children and wife, along with friends from the film industry. Actor Achyuth Kumar was among those present to pay his last respects. In the past, Prakash Raj had spoken about his mother’s medical condition. He revealed that she underwent brain surgery due to a cyst, which later caused memory loss.
Prakash Raj
The actor shared that she struggled to recognize even close family members after the procedure, making it an emotionally challenging time for the family. He had once spoken at a dementia symposium about how the experience deeply affected him and motivated him to find ways to keep his mother engaged and connected. Amid the criticism, Prakash Raj’s response has resonated with many who believe that respecting a loved one’s faith is more important than personal ideology.