On February 22, 2025, Bollywood filmmaker and choreographer, Farah Khan’s comment on Holi as the “favorite festival of all the chhapri people” on Celebrity MasterChef sparked controversy and backlash in the social media.
At this juncture, it is important to take note of the fact that these are not one-off instances, but a part of a widespread malaise in the attitudes of celebrities, which makes them hypocritically biased against Hindu festivals while being pro Muslim festivals.
This article is based on a report of compilation of such instances where well-known celebrities who are adored and idolized by millions of Hindus worldwide.
1. Farah Khan demeans Holi as festival of ‘Chappris’
Appearing in one of the episodes of MasterChef on February 20, film director and choreographer Farah Khan called Holi ‘a festival for the chhapris’ (a casteist slur). Reportedly, an FIR was filed at Khar police station Vikash Fhatak, better known as Hindustani Bhau. ABP News quoted his advocate, Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, as saying, “My client states that this comment made by Farah Khan has insulted the religious sentiments of Hindus. The use of the term ‘Chhapris’ to describe a sacred festival is highly inappropriate and has the potential to cause communal tension.” It is interesting to note that Farah Khan depicts Muslim festivals like Eid as a great festival.
2. Tina Dutta considers Holi is a wasteful festival, but does not see anything wrong with Eid!
When the country was relishing the sacred Hindu festival of Holi, actress Tina Dutta urged everyone to “save water and play safe” during the festival. Surprisingly, the same kind of concern is not seen when promoting Muslim festival of Eid which is a festival associated with mass animal sacrifice and pollution due to unsanitary practices.
3. Kajol lectures Hindus during Holi but appreciates Muslim festivals
The lecturing of Hindus during Holi and simultaneous exaltation of Eid is something which Bollywood celebrities have perfected over the years. This subtle Hinduphobia is out in the open now with more awareness in the Hindu society. Kajol is no exception in this regard with her hypocritical posturing against Hindu festival of Holi and praising of Muslim ones.
4. Mamata Bannerjee decides not to participate in Hindu festival of Holi for moral grandstanding
Mamata Bannerjee used Pulwama attack which occurred during February to posture and shame Hindus to give up Hindu festival of Holi while Ramzan celebration is encouraged in a few months.
5. Several TV actors lecture Hindus to save water during Holi
Several TV actors and actresses such as Jasmin Bhasin, Aniruddh Dave, Aditi Rao, Gunjan Utreja have been seen doing similar moral posturing against Hindus to shame about their festivals using bogus ideas of ‘saving water’ which being blind about negative effects of Muslim festivals.
6. Several Bollywood actors consider Holi a water-wasting exercise!
John Abraham has made statements discouraging usage of water during Holi while being silent about harmful practices involved in Muslim festivals.
In similar vein, actresses such as Kriti Sanon and Alia Bhatt propagate similar sentiments with respect to Hindu festivals while being respectful towards Muslim ones.
Amir Khan says animal sacrifice during Eid is ‘personal belief’ while urges people to use less water during Holi !
Hrithik Roshan decides to skip Holi to ‘save water’ while speaks positively towards Eid !
7. Secularist journalist Rajdeep Sardesai appeals to save water during Holi but silent about Muslim festivals
Secularist Rajdeep Sardesai has been accused of being Hinduphobic several times. One such occasion is his lecturing to Hindus during Holi about saving water while clubbing Eid and Ekadashi to show-off as being a hyper secular person!
8. Rubina Dilaik expresses anger on bursting firecrackers during Diwali
In a blatant display of Hinduphobia, actress Rubina Dilaik expressed anger and frustration on bursting of firecrackers during Diwali under the guise of noise pollution. Daily Azaan prayers through loudspeakers which is a year-long affair is not considered ‘noise pollution’ by such folks.
Festive season environmentalists and animal lovers are another breed of bollywood actors and actresses who awaken their inner virtue-signalling capabilities during Hindu festival of Diwali while being under the rock and wishing during Eid! Neha Dhupia, Sonam Kapoor, Diya Mirza, Shraddha Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Parneeti Chopra, and Ananya Pandey are prominent examples of this kind of behaviour.
Such moral grandstanding, virtue-signalling and browbeating of Hindus during their fun-filled festive season is a hallmark of Hinduphobia which is deeply embedded in these celebrities who perpetuate subtle sidelining of Hindu dharma from the public space and making room of de-Hinduization of our society.
Hindus need to strongly speak up and stop such de-Hinduization by celebrities. Once Hindus make them feel the heat of their words and actions, automatically they will have to mend their ways to maintain their good image among the public. This article is a call for action for Hindus who see such subtle and explicit Hinduphobia in their surroundings and in the media/social media.
