Overview

• In a statement to Hindustan Times on August 13, Hombale Films denied any suggestion that Yash wasn’t their first choice for Rocky Bhai and reasserted that the role was conceived with him in mind.
• Co-founder Chaluve Gowda’s earlier comment about approaching an unnamed “big star” was intended to highlight past industry skepticism about Kannada cinema’s reach and did not refer to a lead-role offer.
• Multiple news outlets and social-media accounts misinterpreted Gowda’s remark, reporting it as evidence that Yash had been passed over for the KGF lead.
• The studio’s clarification comes as it continues to capitalize on KGF’s blockbuster success—₹250 crore at the box office for Chapter 1 and ₹1,250 crore for its sequel—and subsequent nationwide hits like Kantara and Salaar.
• Despite the official correction, online posts persistently repeat the unfounded casting claim, underscoring challenges in correcting film-related misinformation.