Beauty, Nationalism, and the Power of Online Criticism: A Bollywood Saga Unfolds
In a dramatic turn of events, content creator Orhan Awatramani, better known as Orry, has fiercely defended his friend Janhvi Kapoor against YouTuber Dhruv Rathee’s recent video, The FAKE Beauty of Bollywood Celebrities. But here's where it gets controversial: Orry didn’t just stop at defending Janhvi—he labeled Rathee an ‘anti-nationalist,’ sparking a heated debate that’s dividing the internet. And this is the part most people miss: the timing of Rathee’s video, which came just hours after Janhvi condemned the brutal lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh, has raised eyebrows about his motives.
The Spark That Ignited the Fire
On December 25, Dhruv Rathee released a video on his YouTube channel, alleging that several Bollywood stars, including Janhvi Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Shruti Haasan, Deepika Padukone, Shilpa Shetty, Kajol, and Priyanka Chopra, have undergone cosmetic procedures like plastic surgery, botox, fillers, or skin-lightening treatments. Janhvi’s image was even featured as the video thumbnail, showcasing alleged ‘before-and-after’ surgery photos. While the video quickly went viral, it also ignited a fierce debate on social media about the ethics of publicly scrutinizing someone’s appearance.
Orry’s Fiery Rebuttal
Orry, known for his candid and unfiltered opinions, didn’t hold back. Stumbling upon an Instagram reel discussing Rathee’s video, he commented, ‘She probably doesn’t even know who he is,’ referring to Janhvi’s likely indifference toward Rathee’s claims. But he didn’t stop there. Orry went on to call Rathee an ‘anti-nationalist,’ suggesting that his videos are mere attention-seeking tactics. In another comment, he quipped, ‘I myself only know him as that anti-nationalist who complains about not getting papped at train stations despite having followers.’
The Broader Controversy Surrounding Dhruv Rathee
This isn’t the first time Rathee has found himself at the center of controversy. Just a day before Orry’s comments, fans of Deepika Padukone rallied to defend her after Rathee claimed she had undergone skin-lightening treatments, urging him to stop targeting her. Additionally, Rathee faced backlash for his critique of Aditya Dhar’s film Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna. In his video titled ‘Reality of Dhurandhar,’ Rathee accused the film of being propaganda, stating, ‘Well-made propaganda is more dangerous. Films like The Taj Story and The Bengal Films were not dangerous because they were bad films. But Dhurandhar is an engaging film.’
The Bigger Question: Where Do We Draw the Line?
This saga raises thought-provoking questions about the boundaries of online criticism. Is it fair to publicly dissect someone’s appearance, especially when it’s tied to their profession? And what does it mean when such critiques come from someone labeled as ‘anti-nationalist’? Orry’s defense of Janhvi highlights the importance of standing up for friends, but it also opens a Pandora’s box of debates about nationalism, celebrity culture, and the power of social media influencers.
A Call to the Audience
What do you think? Is Dhruv Rathee’s criticism justified, or has he crossed a line? And does Orry’s labeling of Rathee as ‘anti-nationalist’ hold water, or is it an overreach? Let’s keep the conversation going—share your thoughts in the comments below. After all, in the world of Bollywood and beyond, the lines between personal, professional, and political are blurrier than ever.
