DC may have celebrated its box-office success with a trio of brand-new BMWs, but the gesture has triggered an unexpected debate online. Producer Kalanithi Maran presented cars to director Arun Matheswaran, actor-director Lokesh Kanagaraj and composer Anirudh Ravichander after the film’s successful theatrical run. Soon after the video appeared online, fans of Wamiqa Gabbi began asking why the actor, whose performance as Chandra received considerable attention, was not among those honoured with a car.
The discussion has less to do with the actual value of a BMW and more to do with recognition. Wamiqa is one of the central faces of DC, alongside Lokesh and Sanjana Krishnamoorthy, and her character Chandra is an important part of the film’s emotional and dramatic core. While there is no indication that Sun Pictures intended the gesture as a slight against her, the decision has nevertheless left some viewers questioning whether the film’s female performers received the same level of public appreciation as the men behind the camera and music.
Why Wamiqa’s fans are upset
Sun Pictures shared the BMW presentation on its official social-media accounts, showing Kalanithi Maran congratulating Arun Matheswaran, Lokesh Kanagaraj and Anirudh Ravichander. The production house described the vehicles as a token of appreciation for the success of the blockbuster. The footage shows the three recipients receiving the keys and leaving in their new cars, turning what might otherwise have been a private gesture into a highly visible celebration of the film’s success.
That visibility is what appears to have fuelled the reaction around Wamiqa. Several fans argued that Chandra was not merely a supporting presence in DC, with some going as far as describing Wamiqa as the “soul” of the film. One X user wrote, “Wamiqa ku oru scooty achu vangi kuduthurukalam. (They could’ve at least bought a scooty for Wamiqa),” turning the criticism into a sarcastic observation about the perceived imbalance in recognition.
Another social-media user questioned whether the recognition should have been broader, writing, “Appo sanjana ku cycle ahh.. Ellarayum equal ah treat pannanum..(Then should Sanjana receive a cycle..you should treat everyone equally).” The comment also brought Sanjana Krishnamoorthy into the conversation, since she too was not included among the BMW recipients. Both Wamiqa and Sanjana are officially listed among the principal cast of DC, making their absence noticeable to sections of the audience.
Other reactions were more direct. One viewer wrote, “There was no mention of #Wamiqa at all… not even a passing one, despite her being the soul of the film DC. She, too, deserved a car and due acknowledgment.” Another fan questioned the tradition of gifting luxury cars after successful Tamil films while specifically pointing out that Wamiqa had made a major contribution to DC.
The same discussion has also appeared on Reddit, where viewers debated Wamiqa’s performance and her importance to the film. Some users argued that she was one of the strongest elements of the movie, while others used the controversy to raise broader questions about how women are acknowledged in the Tamil film industry. Those comments reflect audience sentiment rather than an official explanation from Sun Pictures about why the gifts were limited to three members of the team.
Wamiqa’s Chandra was central to DC
The reaction becomes easier to understand when you look at what DC actually asked Wamiqa to play. The film casts Lokesh Kanagaraj as Devadas, with Wamiqa playing Chandra and Sanjana Krishnamoorthy in another key role. Sun Pictures itself describes the movie as a romantic action drama directed by Arun Matheswaran, while the official trailer credits Wamiqa alongside Lokesh as one of the principal performers.
Arun Matheswaran’s film takes inspiration from the Devdas story but moves it into a much darker crime-action world. Lokesh plays the rebellious Devadas, while Chandra becomes an important part of the character’s journey through violence, danger and survival. The film’s official synopsis describes Devadas and Chandra as joining forces in a dangerous world where their relationship is tested by bloodshed and shifting loyalties.
That is also why the criticism is not simply about an actress expecting the same reward as a director or composer. Fans are essentially arguing that the public celebration should reflect the contribution of the performers who helped bring the story to life. Wamiqa’s role required her to carry emotional and dramatic material alongside Lokesh, and the film’s reception gave viewers plenty of reasons to discuss her performance separately from the movie’s technical achievements.
The film itself has performed strongly enough to make the BMW celebration understandable. DC was released on August 7, 2026, in Tamil and Telugu and has been described as a successful theatrical venture for Sun Pictures. Trade figures cited in the supplied material put its worldwide gross at ₹103.06 crore, taking it past the ₹100-crore milestone. The success also carries particular significance because DC marks Lokesh Kanagaraj’s acting debut after establishing himself as one of Tamil cinema’s prominent contemporary directors.
The bigger question behind the BMW controversy
There is an important distinction between questioning a celebration and accusing the producer of deliberately ignoring someone. At present, there is no public statement from Kalanithi Maran or Sun Pictures saying that Wamiqa was excluded because of her performance, nor has Wamiqa publicly complained about not receiving a BMW. The criticism is coming from sections of the audience who believe the cast should have received more visible recognition.
It is also worth remembering that such gifts do not necessarily follow a fixed industry rule. Producers can choose to reward particular members of a team for a variety of reasons, including creative leadership, long-standing professional relationships or individual contribution to a project. The BMW gesture therefore does not automatically establish that Wamiqa was undervalued by the production. What it has done, however, is create a very public conversation about which contributions tend to receive the biggest gestures when a film becomes a commercial success.
There is precedent for Sun Pictures using luxury cars as success gifts. The production house has previously presented cars following major hits, including celebrations around Jailer, making the practice part of a broader tradition rather than something created specifically for DC. This time, though, the presence of Wamiqa and Sanjana in a film that has a strong female character component has made the latest gesture more open to scrutiny.
For Wamiqa, the controversy could ultimately end up drawing even more attention to Chandra and her work in the film. She was already one of the names viewers were discussing after DC‘s release, and the current debate has once again placed her performance at the centre of the conversation. Whether Sun Pictures eventually acknowledges the criticism or simply allows the discussion to fade remains to be seen.
Did Wamiqa Gabbi receive a BMW from DC producer Kalanithi Maran?
Wamiqa Gabbi was not among the three people publicly shown receiving BMW cars from Kalanithi Maran. Sun Pictures shared a video of Maran presenting cars to Arun Matheswaran, Lokesh Kanagaraj and Anirudh Ravichander following DC‘s success. There has been no public announcement indicating that Wamiqa received a similar gift privately.
Why are Wamiqa Gabbi’s fans upset?
Fans are upset because they believe Wamiqa made a significant contribution to DC through her performance as Chandra. Her omission from the public BMW presentation led some viewers to argue that the film’s female performers deserved greater recognition. However, there is currently no official statement saying that the decision was intended to diminish Wamiqa’s contribution.
Who received BMW cars after DC’s success?
Kalanithi Maran presented BMW cars to director Arun Matheswaran, actor-director Lokesh Kanagaraj and music composer Anirudh Ravichander. Sun Pictures described the gesture as a congratulatory reward for the success of DC. The presentation was shared publicly through the production house’s social-media accounts.
What role did Wamiqa Gabbi play in DC?
Wamiqa Gabbi plays Chandra, one of the central characters in DC. The film stars her alongside Lokesh Kanagaraj and Sanjana Krishnamoorthy and combines romance, action and crime elements. Sun Pictures’ official movie page identifies Wamiqa as the actress playing Chandra.
How much did DC earn worldwide?
DC crossed the ₹100-crore worldwide mark, with the trade figure supplied for the film putting its worldwide gross at ₹103.06 crore. The commercial performance helped prompt the success celebration in which the BMW gifts were presented. The film was released theatrically on August 7, 2026.
Is Sun Pictures facing criticism for excluding Wamiqa?
Yes, sections of the audience have criticised the production house after seeing the BMW presentation. Much of that criticism centres on the belief that Wamiqa and Sanjana also deserved visible recognition for their work in the film. Neither actress has publicly confirmed that they consider the decision a slight, so the current controversy remains primarily a fan-driven discussion rather than a confirmed dispute between the actors and the producers.
