In an amusing twist to the intense anticipation surrounding India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, renowned actor Prakash Raj finds himself facing the music. The Karnataka police confirmed on Tuesday that the actor was booked in Bagalkot district after he ostensibly ridiculed the mission in a post on social media platform X.

Local sources suggest Hindu organization leaders in Banahatti were not in the least amused by his antics. They promptly lodged a complaint against him, demanding stringent action. Their sentiment? Not everything is ripe for comedy, especially not a mission that resonates with national pride.

Raj, presumably attempting to leverage humour, had shared a cheeky caricature of a man pouring tea on X with the caption, “First view just arrived from Chandrayaan .. #VikramLander #justasking.” The 'joke', however, backfired spectacularly.

The backlash was swift and severe, with many pointing out that Chandrayaan-3 is a symbol of India's progress in space technology and intertwined with the country's pride. But did Raj regret it? Not exactly. Attempting to defuse the situation, he responded, "Hate sees only Hate...I was referring to a joke of #Armstrong times celebrating our Kerala Chaiwala-which Chaiwala did the Trolls see? If you don't get a joke, then the joke is on you... GROW UP #justasking."

While the controversy brews, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) remains focused on the task at hand. Chandrayaan-3 is primed for its lunar landing on August 23, 18:04 IST. Enthusiasts can catch the monumental moment live on ISRO's official website, YouTube channel, Facebook, and DD National TV.

Achieving this would mark India's entry into an elite club, joining the likes of the United States, Russia, and China. However, the crown jewel? India will be the first nation to make a touchdown on the lunar south pole.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission stands tall with its objectives: a safe lunar landing, lunar surface rover operations, and on-site scientific experiments. Initiated in January 2020, the launch was initially slated for 2021. Alas, the Covid-19 pandemic had other plans. The mission finally took off on July 14, 2023, embarking from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota at 2:35 PM.