Hyderabad, May 16 -- Telugu actor and comedian Ali has issued a public apology after a commercial for Ghar Soaps sparked backlash online over its use of religious imagery and devotional references.

The controversy began after the advertisement showed Ali performing a pooja for the soap product in a manner that some viewers felt resembled prayers associated with Goddess Lakshmi. Social media users also criticised a musical portion in the commercial that referenced devotional names linked to the 2012 Tollywood film Devudu Chesina Manushulu.

As criticism intensified online, several users demanded that the advertisement be taken down, calling the use of devotional themes in a soap commercial inappropriate and offensive to religious sentimen...