Actor Siddharth, in Bengaluru to promote his upcoming film Chithha, encountered an unexpected interruption at a press conference held at the SRV theatre in the city. Members of a pro-Kannada group entered the venue and demanded that the actor leave the event in support of the ongoing Cauvery water dispute.

As Siddharth engaged with the media, the protestors insisted that he exit the press conference, stating that the Cauvery water issue was a matter of grave concern. One of the protesters emphasized that they had come to request, not order, the actor to halt the proceedings. Eventually, Siddharth decided to conclude the press conference and thanked the media before leaving the venue.

The interruption occurred amidst protests and a Karnataka Bandh organized by various pro-Kannada organizations, farmer groups, and labor unions. They are protesting the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu on September 29, arguing that it is happening despite low water storage levels in the Cauvery basin reservoirs in Karnataka, which poses a threat to drinking water supply in Bengaluru and irrigation in the Mandya region.

Chithha, a Tamil-language film directed by SU Arun Kumar, is an intense family drama centered around an uncle’s quest to find his missing niece, with Siddharth portraying the role of the uncle. The film, produced by Siddharth’s Etaki Entertainment, was released on September 28.