Fringe groups in Karnataka have been threatening to disrupt the smooth release of Baahubali 2` citing the reason that Sathyaraj who is playing Kattappa in the film had spoken against Kannadigas over a Kaveri water dispute protest nine years ago.

Sathyaraj has issued a video statement in which he has expressed his regret over his speech if it had hurt the sentiments of Kannadigas. He has also made it clear that he is not against the people of Karnataka at any point and also that having played a small role in Baahubali` he did not want the mighty efforts of thousands of people involved in the magnum opus. Known as the Puratchi Tamilan, Sathyaraj has requested directors and producers not to book him for films as they might have trouble releasing the film. He finished with the bold pledge that he will continue to lend his support to Tamils in Kaveri dispute, Tamil Eelam and the Farmers agitations and asserted that he would rather die as a Tamilan than an actor.