The usually soft-spoken and undoubtedly diplomatic Nithiin, who has always been a stranger to controversies, today found himself at the centre of an unwarranted controversy. In his enthusiasm to praise his favourite actor Pawan Kalyan, he tweeted, "Raayudu lu entho mandhi untaaru.. kaani Kaatamarayudu Okkade Untaadu #pichamass, (There may be many Raayudus, but there is only ONE Katamarayudu)" the 'A Aa' star said.

The tweet was met with a rousing reception by Powerstar's fans, but there were so many who saw it as a veiled belittling of a particular veteran actor. They trolled him to no end.

"I did not want 2 hurt any 1 in the industry or out..Im extremely sorry if i hurt the feelings of fans n followers of other great artists (sic)," Nithiin later said as a rejoinder, making sure to delete the original tweet.

Lakshmi Manchu was the only film personality to have viewed it as disrespectful toward you-know-who. Accepting Nithiin's unconditional apology, she asked "Tintin" to never repeat it.