Actor Vikram faces controversy over monkey video

Actor Vikram has sparked controversy after sharing an Instagram video showing him playing with a small monkey. The footage depicted the animal pulling at the actor's hair. Reports indicate the animal is a Lar gibbon, a species native to Indonesia, and that keeping such primates as pets is illegal.

Allegations suggest the monkey was smuggled from Southeast Asia through Manipur and Erode to the Chennai residence of C.K. Ranganathan, the founder of CavinKare and Vikram's relative. Following an investigation and subsequent action by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the actor has removed the video from his social media account.