Actor Prakash Raj expressed his joy on X about India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 mission. He tweeted, “A moment of pride for India and humanity. Gratitude to #ISRO #Chandrayaan3 #VikramLander and all contributors. May this inspire us to explore and appreciate the mysteries of the universe. #justasking (sic).”

Earlier, Prakash Raj faced criticism for a lunar mission-related joke, which he later clarified was a well-known jest among people from Kerala.

In the post, he shared an image of a man wearing a lungi and vest pouring tea, a nod to his previous “chaiwala” references aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Following online backlash, Raj explained the context behind the photo, saying, “Hate only sees hate. I was referring to an Armstrong-era joke about our Kerala Chaiwala. Which Chaiwala did the trolls see? If you don’t get the joke, then it’s on you. Grow up. #justasking.”

Some defended Raj, highlighting the joke’s cultural context: “Those fixated on hate will see hate. @prakashraaj refers to a pre-existing joke about Keralites being everywhere, even the moon. It’s about our self-deprecating humor. If you still cling to hate after it’s explained, that’s revealing.”

Subsequently, a police complaint was lodged against Raj for his Chandrayaan-3 tweet. Hindu organization leaders in Karnataka’s Bagalkote district filed the complaint.