RRR director SS Rajamouli cites difference between Hindu dharma and religion, says ‘I am not Hindu…’

While promoting RRR in Los Angeles, SS Rajamouli spoke about the difference between Hindu dharma and religion.

Director SS Rajamouli is busy participating in the awards campaign for RRR. As per the reports of Indian Express, Rajamouli is in the United States of America and attended a film festival.

During a Q&A session at Beyond Fest, the director Rajamouli emphasised the fact that there is a difference between Hinduism the religion and Hindu Dharma. “Many people think Hinduism is a religion, it is in the present context. But before Hinduism the religion, there existed Hinduism the dharma. It is a way of life, it is a philosophy. If you take the religion, I am also not a Hindu, but if you take the dharma, I am very much a Hindu. What I am portraying in the film is actually a way of life that has existed for many, many centuries and aeons.”

Rajamouli’s latest blockbuster borrows ideology associated with Hindu texts, particularly towards the climax. Even the character of Alluri Sitaram Raju (Ram Charan) can also be interpreted as a version of the Hindu God. Talking about the climax scene, Rajamouli conveyed that Raju recites a Sanskrit verse from the Bhagavad Gita. “You can look at it as something that Lord Krishna has told Arjuna, so it is a Hindu religion verse, but if you look at the meaning of it, it has been taught to Indians irrespective of caste and where they were born. It’s about how to look at life, and not look at the result of what you do. That is what Hindu dharma says. So, I am a follower of Hindu dharma,” Rajamouli stated.