Rapper Badshah on Monday issued an apology after a section of people raised objections to the lyrics of his recent song, Sanak.

He shared a note on Instagram that read: “It has been brought to my attention that one of my recent releases, Sanak, sadly seems to have hurt the sentiments of some people. I would never willingly or unknowingly cause offence to anyone’s sentiments. I bring my artistic creations and musical compositions to you, my fans, with the utmost sincerity and passion.”

A senior priest at Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) slammed Badshah for using the name of Lord Shiva (Bholenath) along with obscene words in the song. The priest, Mahesh, urged him to remove the mention of God and apologize. He further batted for an FIR to be lodged against the musician.

In light of the backlash, Badshah has decided to change some parts of the song. “I have taken proactive measures to change some parts of the song and actioned the replacement with this new version on all digital platforms to further avoid hurting anyone. The replacement process takes a few days before the changes will reflect on all platforms, I request everyone to be patient during this period. I humbly offer my sincerest apologies to those whom I may have unknowingly hurt. My fans remain my bedrock, and I shall always hold them in the highest esteem and with boundless affection,” he wrote.

The song, which released a month ago, has amassed over 22 million views so far.