Actors Akshay Kumar, Urmila Matondkar, Sanjay Dutt, and Kiara Advani on Thursday expressed shock over a May 4 video of two tribal women being paraded naked in strife-hit Manipur and demanded punishment for the perpetrators of the "horrifying" incident.
Tension mounted in the hills of Manipur after the video surfaced on Wednesday. It was doing the rounds on the eve of a planned protest march announced by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) on Thursday to highlight their plight.
The Northeastern state has been seeing ethnic violence since May 3 and several fatalities have been reported.
Akshay said he is "shaken and disgusted" to see the video of violence against women in Manipur.
"I hope the culprits get such a harsh punishment that no one ever thinks of doing a horrifying thing like this again," the actor wrote on Twitter.
Actor-politician Urmila said it was shocking how "no action" was taken by the authorities in an incident that took place in May.
"Shocked, shaken, horrified at #manipur video n fact that it’s happened in May with no action on it. Shame on those sitting on their high horses drunk with power, jokers in media boot licking them, celebrities who r silent. When did we reach here dear Bharatiyas/Indians? (sic)" she tweeted.
Advani said she is praying that the women get justice at the earliest.
"The video of violence against women in Manipur is horrifying and has shaken me to the core... Those responsible must face the most SEVERE punishment they deserve," she wrote on Twitter.
The video portraying violence against women in Manipur was shocking and sickening, added Dutt.
"My utmost hope is for the culprits to be punished with the utmost severity, sending a clear message that such despicable actions will not be tolerated in any circumstance," the actor said.
Police said a case of abduction, gangrape, and murder has been registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed miscreants.
The Manipur Police on Thursday arrested one of the main accused who was seen in a May 4 video of two tribal women being paraded naked and molested by a mob at a village in Senapati district, officials said.
Actor Richa Chadha termed the incident "shameful, horrific, and lawless".
Renuka Shahane questioned if there was "no one to stop the atrocities" in Manipur.
"If you are not shaken to the core by that disturbing video of two women, is it even right to call oneself human, let alone Bharatiya or Indian," Shahane tweeted.
"Stop asking why he’s quiet. Surely, you don’t expect the very people who caused the strife to speak/act against it. #Manipur," composer Vishal Dadlani wrote on the microblogging site.
Actor Riteish Deshmukh said he is "seething with anger".
"No man should go unpunished for such crime. Attack on the dignity of a woman is an attack on humanity itself," he said.
Commenting on the incident, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri tweeted: "We are a failed society." Addressing the Parliament ahead of the Monsoon Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said law will act with its full might on the incident of women being paraded naked in Manipur.
The Supreme Court directed Centre and Manipur government to take immediate steps and apprise it on what action has been taken on the video.
Delhi Commission For Women chief Swati Maliwal said she will write to the prime minister and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, demanding strict action in the case of two women paraded naked by some men in the ethnic violence-hit state.
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.